Manchester City defender Micah Richards has no doubt that his team-mate Daniel Sturridge is the best striker at his age, and described him as ‘sheer class’.

The 18-year-old has shown his class as he scored a goal within three minutes of him coming on to the pitch in the FA Cup loss to Sheffield United. And the teenager was only coming into the game after a lengthy lay-off due to hip operation. He then scored in the Premiership.

City and England teenager defender, Richards said: “We've been playing together for four or five years and he's always been touted as the best.

"For me he is the best striker I have ever seen that age. He's not the type to get big-headed.

"There are a lot of boys the best for their age at 18 or 19 but by the time they're 23 or 24 they fall away. I don't think he's the type to do that. He's sheer class."