‘AT BORO, I KNEW GARETH WAS TOP-CLASS’
GARETH SOUTHGATE has backed Raheem Sterling to come good for England.
Sterling scored 23 goals for Manchester City last season to catapult them to a League and Carabao Cup double.
But for England the 23-year-old has an appalling goal record. He has scored just twice in 44 games for his country – the last 27 games ago against Estonia during the Euro 2016 qualifiers. That shocking record triggered calls for him to be axed during the World Cup in Russia.
But as Southgate prepares to face World Cup semi-final opponents Croatia in the UEFA Nations League next Friday, he’s convinced Sterling’s armour-plated mentality will help the jet-heeled winger fulfil his potential with England.
“I think in simplistic terms we are just waiting for him to add goals to everything else he’s producing,” Southgate said.
“His level of performance with us has been really good but the one missing piece is his finishing.
“If he had scored twice at the World Cup in the summer everyone would have been viewing his tournament in a much more positive way.
“But he knows how much we think of him and what a valuable part of the team we feel he is. Hopefully that’s the most important thing for him and I am confident he can transfer that into his performances.”
Sterling has overcome more controversial moments in his young career than most players in a lifetime in the game.
His exit from Liverpool to City in 2015 was acrimonious, he’s been snapped smoking from a shisha pipe and inhaling nitrous oxide from balloons, and earlier this year there MALCOLM CROSBY knows better than anyone how it all began for Gareth Southgate on his journey to becoming England manager.
Crosby — now a southern area scout for Frank Lampard’s Derby County — is best remembered for managing Sunderland when they reached the 1992 FA Cup final and lost 2-0 to Liverpool. was uproar over a gun tattoo on his right leg. Southgate added: “I think life in sport is about developing resilience. The top players all have to overcome setbacks and are constantly being questioned. We think their world is easier because of their status but actually there’s more pressure on them.
“He’s dealt with it really well for someone who is still really young. I know how ambitious he is, I know the easy thing is sometimes to step back from the challenge. But you have to keep proving in life you’re ready to answer the questions asked of you.”
Southgate is confident Sterling will prove himself with England.
“I have no doubt he can take that challenge on,” he said.
“Look at last season with City. People asked ‘will he get in, will he be able to be a big part of their season?’ He took it on and was one of their leading scorers and had a massive impact in the team that won the league.
“This time there’s Riyad Mahrez (left) coming in and another challenge for him, and, boom, there he is again.
“So all the evidence shows us he can overcome it. He’s desperate to do well with England because it has been a big part of his career from 17 up.
“He was able to stretch defences in the summer with his speed and that caused them problems.
“He found really clever pockets of space that overloaded the midfield. He works incredibly hard without the ball in our team.
“I think the days have gone of a forward player waiting for the ball and turning it on when it gets to his feet.
“Dortmund don’t accept that, Manchester United don’t. City and Liverpool are the same.
“So you have to do all those things. And Raheem does.” But he also held high office with North-East rivals Middlesbrough as assistant manager to Southgate.
However, Boro’s relegation in 2009 signalled big changes.
Crosby was the chief casualty when he lost his job. But then Southgate ultimately paid with his own sacking.
Few would have imagined then that he would lead his country to a World Cup semi-final. But Crosby, 64, says he knew back in 2006 that Southgate had all the qualities to succeed in management. Crosby said: “Gareth can only get better. I can’t see anyone doing a better job than him “When Sam Allardyce got the job, I thought that would be a good choice. Gareth was being groomed as Under-21 coach and I could see him taking over eventually.
“But Gareth got it early and what he’s done is remarkable.
“Everybody said England weren’t a great team, but getting to a World Cup semifinal still takes some doing.
“But Gareth has shown he gets the best out of people – he’s very measured and he’s a good fella. When I worked with him, I could see him being top-class as a manager. His manner and composure were fantastic.
“I’m not saying he was Mr Nice Guy all the time.
“When he needed to, he would get tough. He dealt with people well, but he wasn’t soft by any means.’’
He added: “We had a couple of good seasons and then we were relegated the next, but Boro were great to work with.”