'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
England manager Roy Hodgson has claimed that he will find it difficult not to pick Raheem Sterling against Italy in their World Cup opener and labelled the Liverpool youngster’s performances in training “breathtaking”.
Sterling, 19, was sent off during England’s World Cup warm-up game against Ecuador in midweek and will miss England’s final warm-up game against Honduras this evening. He received a straight red card from the referee after reckless challenge on Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia, who was also sent off for grabbing Sterling by the neck in the aftermath of the tackle.
Hodgson suggested after the match that Sterling may need to do a lot better in training over the next week, as he’ll miss the final warm-up game, to persuade him to start against Italy in their Group D opening game, and it seems that he has done.
“His reaction has been excellent,” Hodgson said.
“You the saw the games and the passing practice we did today and I thought he was unstoppable at times. Some of the things he did out there were quite breathtaking.
“I’m disappointed he won’t play (against Honduras). I was going to start him, but it doesn’t affect his chance of playing in the first team when the tournament starts.
“He’s still making me aware he’s a player who can inflict an awful lot of damage on the opposition. He is an exceptional talent, along with our other exceptional talents.”
Sterling’s captain, Steven Gerrard, should be taking the credit for the youngster’s revival in training, as he escorted him off the pitch following the red card and offered him some advice.
His words seem to have had an effect and Gerrard said: “He’s very resilient. He was the best player in training this morning.
“Straight away after the incident I spoke to him in the dressing room and I said it was important he put himself back in the frame for Italy, and he’s done that.”
