OWEN Coyle reckons Daniel Sturridge’s progress could suffer if he isn’t guaranteed first team football next season.

The Wanderers boss has just over a week left to work with the striker, who has been a scoring sensation with seven goals in 10 appearances since arriving from Chelsea in January.

He is due to travel back to Stamford Bridge in the summer, but put a question mark against his future this week by admitting he would be open to another loan move next season if Carlo Ancelotti did not consider him part of the first team picture.

That has alerted Wanderers, with Coyle admitting he would jump at the chance to work with the England Under-21 hitman again.

“I’ve said before, there’s no shame in being out on loan, given they have Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Fernando Torres and everyone else,” he said.

“He has to play and I might be wrong but anything else might slightly set him back because he knows he can handle the level he’s playing at.

“Ultimately it’s Chelsea’s decision, first and foremost, and then Daniel from there.

“But he knows he’s got a manager that would take him back at the drop of a hat.”

Given Sturridge’s success this season, Wanderers could have a fight on their hands for the 21-year-old, who scored in his first four starts for the club.

But Coyle is confident that if Chelsea indicate they are willing to loan out the youngster again, that his club will be at the front of the queue.

“If that was an option in the summer, we’d do everything in our power to make it happen,” he said.

“Daniel knows that, and that he’s got a manager that believes in him. He’s been given a platform and thrived on it.

“He’s got two big games to do even more and that’s what we’re trying to do, we’re looking to push him every day to become a better player, for Daniel Sturridge and at this moment in time, for Bolton Wanderers.

“It was the same with Jack Wilshere last season, we wanted to push him on, and I think he will go in the same vein.”