Dietmar Hamann hails in-form Daniel Sturridge

Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has hailed striker Daniel Sturridge following his fine start to the season for club and country.

Sturridge kept up his goalscoring form in England's 4-1 win over Montenegro on Friday night by converting from the penalty spot, and Hamann has been impressed with 23-year-old.

"What I like about Daniel is that he can do everything," Hamann told the official Liverpool FC magazine. "His all-round game is superb. Pace is one of the major and most noticeable assets. Before he joined in January I felt the team was lacking in that department.

"His speed allows Liverpool to stretch opponents. Defenders don't want him running in behind them so they drop off deep. That creates more room for Sturridge and his teammates.

"Then there is his ability to beat opponents with trickery. Not too many centre-forwards can go past men or evade challenges the way he does. Technically he is very good too."

Sturridge has netted six league goals so far this season, making him the Premier League's leading scorer.