I want to do Sterling job says Barnes
RAHEEM STERLING may be temporarily gone from the national squad but he is not forgotten as an inspiration for England new boy Harvey Barnes.
The King Power Express views the flowering of Sterling from raw hit- and- miss merchant into a 20- goal- a- season man in the Premier League as an example of what is possible with his own game after breaking into Gareth Southgate’s squad.
With 11 goals in his past 13 games for England, the injured Sterling has developed into the sort of reliable goal source the ultra- rapid Barnes aims to become.
“Look at how he has progressed as a player, not just with his club but on the international stage,” said Barnes.
“It’s certainly something I’m looking at. I want to try and improve and add as much of that to my game as I can.
“With the goalscoring, as an attacker – especially a wide attacking player – it is important to be creating as many chances and as many goals as you can in games. Raheem has added that, and he is one of the best in the game at it now so, for me, it’s something I’m looking to improve and keep working on.
“I’ve been very pleased with my progress and this season I feel like I’ve started well. I wasn’t expecting what has happened with England, but I’m really happy to be here now.”
Set a target of double figures for Leicester City this season by manager Brendan Rodgers after netting six times in the Premier League last season, Barnes is already off the mark with a goal against Burnley.
The art should come naturally given that his father Paul scored goals for a living – 133 of them around the lower leagues, most productively with York City in the Nineties.
“Most of my dad’s goals were from in and around the six- yard box, I think he’d be happy to say,” said Barnes.
“Having played as many games as he has and scored as many goals as he has, he has definitely guided me – especially during the early part of my career. I feel like he is a massive help for me.”