Former Nottingham Forest striker Jason Lee has strongly backed Sam Surridge to cut it in the Premier League if given a chance.
Surridge played a valuable role in winning promotion as he scored eight goals since joining for around £2m from Stoke City in January. However, he has seen Taiwo Awoniyi and Emmanuel Dennis start ahead of him as the central striker this season, with Morgan Gibbs-White playing as false nine in the last two games.
Surridge, 24, has made one league start, but has scored twice in the Carabao Cup against Grimsby Town and he registered an assist in an impressive performance against Tottenham in the same competition.
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Former Reds striker Lee told the Garibaldi Red podcast he is a fan of both Awoniyi and Surridge as central strikers as he backed Surridge to show he can match £17m former club record signing Awoniyi, or play alongside him.
"I like Surridge. I'm not going to lie. He offers that physicality as well," he said when initially asked about Awoniyi.
"They're both a similar size. If I was coaching still I'd love the opportunity to work with both of them. You want the ball to stick. Whether it's Taiwo or Sam you want to look after the ball.
"In the Premier League if the ball doesn't stick for a period of time you can't get out. We showed how good we are on the break last season but if you aren't keeping the ball for a period of time it will keep coming back at you.
"I like both of them. Taiwo has got three goals and Surridge has done well off the bench. Steve Cooper talks about them being impact players. Being a substitute isn't easy.
"Can you make a difference when you come on? If their attitude is right and they keep working there's the making of two good young strikers.
"I can understand and empathise with Sam Surridge. Extremely frustrated. I've seen him and spoken to him.
"He wants to play his part. When you bring in players, invariably the focus is on the new players. In my day you had players like Andrea Silenzi, Kevin Campbell. They were big money signings and I wasn't.
"You felt like you were dropping down the pecking order straight away. Sam has to keep his head and make sure you forget Taiwo cost more money. When you get an opportunity go and grasp it.
"He's good enough. He's an excellent finisher and he's got good attributes. They'll both be needed. You might want to play the two of them together sometimes."
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