ROY FEARS ‘MATURE’ STERLING’S GOALS

ROY HODGSON gave Raheem Sterling his big break – but prays he does not come back to haunt him today.

The 23-year-old striker is the man of the moment at runaway league leaders Manchester City. Hodgson said: “I gave him his Liverpool debut in a friendly against Borussia Monchengladbach when he was 16 or 17.”

And when Hodgson took over as England boss, he also called on his talents. “What I am seeing now is a player who still has the same level of ability, the same pace and ability to beat a man,” said Hodgson. “But I am also seeing a much more mature individual who realises what being a top Premier League player in a top Premier League team is all about.

“And what he has done is added goals to his game. That is by getting into the penalty box a lot more often – and that must be credit to the work the club is doing with him.”