Sturridge puts pen to paper.

Despite the rumours and suggestions in the press in recent months, young striker Daniel Sturridge has put pen to paper on a three-year committing himself to the club until 2009.

From the few times I have seen Sturridge play he looks to be be a little way off the first team at the moment, but a three year deal (initially) should hopefully see him progress and breakthrough into the first team during that time.

You wonder how true the rumours of Chelsea or Arsenal sniffing around and trying to lure him away actually were - and whether he did come close to departing. Or alternatively whether the experience of Shaun Wright-Phillips and the emergence of his peers Onouha and Richards swayed him and swayed him into signing.

Whatever the reasons, good news nonetheless.