I thought Liverpool were right to sell Raheem but he is now close to world class

TO be called world class you have to be good enough to get in any team in the world, and you have to sustain that ability over a period of time. On that basis I’d say Harry Kane and Kyle Walker are the only English players of the current crop I’d be comfortable calling world class. But Raheem Sterling is close to joining them — ask me in 12 months and if he carries on his form like this, you couldn’t argue.

I must admit when I heard City had offered Liverpool £50million for Sterling I thought “take him there”. I knew he was talented but wasn’t certain he could deliver on it year after year.

The work Pep Guardiola has done with him is incredible. Sterling has all that natural flair but his composure in terms of finishing has improved immeasurably. His hat-trick against Watford last night was just the latest evidence.

Sterling has end product — nobody can doubt it any more. I thought he had a really good World Cup, but without the goals. He’s producing goals and assists for City on a regular basis and having banged the drum for Virgil van Dijk to be Player of the Year it has to be really close between them. On the other hand it’s much harder to create than destroy on the pitch, speaking as a former creative midfielder!

The biggest compliment I can give Sterling is that when everyone is waxing lyrical about Eden Hazard and that the really big guns like Real Madrid and Barcelona would be interested in buying him, I don’t think the City man is far behind now.

He is explosive when he needs to be running with the ball yet able to keep a cool head to make the final pass or shot. If he keeps the consistency going for another season or so he’ll be right up there.

Longevity is a big thing for me. That’s why I’d have labelled Frank Lampard, Steve Gerrard and Alan Shearer as world class because they were at the very top for 10 years. That is the next challenge for Sterling — he has the right qualities.