Sterling start but be focused! Gerrard backs whizzkid to be England regular
By Matt Barlow
PUBLISHED: 15:41 GMT, 10 September 2012 | UPDATED: 00:11 GMT, 11 September 2012
Raheem Sterling will not need an arm around his shoulder or a quiet word in his ear from Roy Hodgson explaining how the future lies with England rather than Jamaica, for whom he is also eligible.
'That point has already been made,' smiled Steven Gerrard, captain of Liverpool and England, where the teenager has joined the squad for tonight's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine having exploded into the first team at Anfield.
'That's not why I've called him up,' insisted Hodgson, refuting the suggestion an ulterior motive may lurk behind the surprise call for the 17-year-old.
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He'll be a star: England's Steven Gerrard (left) has backed his Liverpool teammate Raheem Sterling
Promotion: Sterling, 17, has previously represented England at Under-19 level
STERLING FACTS
Age: 17
Born: Kingston, Jamaica
Height: 5ft 7in
Weight: 10st 9lbs
England junior caps: 23 (U16-U19)
Premier League minutes: 180
If Sterling gets on for even a few seconds at Wembley on Tuesday, he will be forever English in the eyes of FIFA, but the England boss said: 'I'm prouder of the England football shirt than that. I'd hope the chance to play for England is sufficiently interesting.
'If Raheem decides he wants to play for Jamaica, he will go with my blessing. But I'd like to think he'll have the right desire to play for England because he's a potential England player.'
Sterling was born in Jamaica and moved to London when aged five. He grew up in the north west of the city and attended Copland Community School in Wembley, just a few hundred yards from the national stadium.
His speed and trickery earned him a wonderful reputation in the youth ranks at Queens Park Rangers and Liverpool came in when he was 16, moving him to Merseyside for an initial fee of £500,000.
Breakthrough: Sterling has impressed for Liverpool in his first few games this season
BRENDAN RODGERS
The Liverpool manager says:
Young players will run through a barbed wire fence for you.
Older players will look for the hole or just turn back and not even go through it! But you get that freshness from Raheem. I like exciting players as well and he is a boy that excites you.
I have got to say I have seen a lot of development in him in a short time. He takes on a lot of the concepts and he is very good with instructions.
Normally wingers want to do their own thing but he is improving tactically every day.
'He's a quiet kid who wants to learn and wants to listen,' said Gerrard. 'His impact has been fantastic but let's not rush him or put too much expectation on him.
'He has done fantastically well so far and it won't be too long before he's a regular in this squad. He is that good. He has that talent. But we shouldn't build up too much expectation.'
Gerrard was once drafted into the squad as a Liverpool teenager and tipped for a big future. It was the day after his 20th birthday in May 2000 when he made his debut against Ukraine and he is set to win his 98th cap tonight. He has survived the hype but Hodgson is cautious and protective over Sterling, who has represented England at different youth levels but is yet to appear for the Under 21 team.
'When you bring in young players like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and now Raheem Sterling, who is even younger, you're causing headlines but we're talking about a precocious talent,' said Hodgson.
Consummate professional: Gerrard (right) was outstanding against Moldova in England's opening World Cup qualifier
'It's meteoric, his rise, and all of us are concerned that we dampen expectations for him as much as we can. I can't stop people writing about it. It's a natural thing.
'But we'll be making it clear to Raheem. "It's a great start, there's interest in you, but don't read too much into being here other than we're watching you".'
Hodgson discussed the issue with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers before making the call.
Next generation: Hodgson has called up Sterling, Adam Lallana and Jake Livermore into the England squad for the Ukraine match
'I've cleared this with him and he is satisfied,' said Hodgson. 'He thought it would be nice for him to soak up the atmosphere around a big game.
'He'll be pretty lucky to get close to the field because there are plenty of players who were chosen in front of him.
'I can only hope he takes it in the right way. He mustn't think he's become a part of the set-up and has made it. He has to try next time to make sure he is one of the original 23. We'll be watching him.'
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