A poor Euro 2016 campaign but can Sterling start to produce his best form for the Three Lions under Sam Allardyce.
A superb 2013-14 campaign for Liverpool under Brendan Rodgers saw Raheem Sterling called up to the England World Cup squad in Brazil, and despite the country’s poor showing, the winger was one of very few positive points to take away from the early exit.
A £49 million move to Manchester City followed, but what comes with the price tag is the expectation to deliver on a regular basis. The 21-year-old has failed to set the world alight with inconsistent performances and plenty have questioned his place at City and for England.
The City man was arguably one of the poorest performers in France this summer, failing to make the impact required in games like Slovakia and Iceland where a spark and invention in the final third was needed.
He has made a promising start to life under new Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola where he has started all three league games, scoring twice with one assist.
It looks as though Sterling is a new man under the Spaniard, and seems to have come back to Manchester City after his summer break refreshed and ready to buy into the Guardiola ethos.
Guardiola told the Guardian: “He showed me from the start that he is strong, mentally strong. He has just focused on his job. That’s it. When that happens he is going to do good things for us and the England national team. I’m pretty sure of that.
“Just focus and the people will stop talking about what happened off the pitch [the protracted transfer], and just talk about what happens on the pitch. Everything is going well, I’m pretty sure of that.”
Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring their third goal
The Guardian understand that Sterling will start in Sam Allardyce’s first game in charge and it will be a perfect opportunity to diminish his substandard performances in the summer.
It’s time for the former Liverpool man to transfer his performances from a City shirt into an England shirt, where many have questioned his place in the side especially with such a wide variety of wingers at Allardyce’s disposal including Adam Lallana, Theo Walcott and Michail Antonio.
The player in 2013-14 at Anfield was a direct, fearless, pacey and strong midfielder who caused problems for defences. He seems to be on his way back with Pep’s guidance, but can he do it for Allardyce and England?
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