Mind games help Sterling

RAHEEM STERLING is spending time with the psychiatrist in England’s camp to banish any negativity from his game. The England forward (below) had a difficult first season at Manchester City after his £49million move from Liverpool last summer, starting just two of their final 16 games. But he has now been reunited with Dr Steve Peters, who worked at Anfield and has been with England since 2014. Sterling said: ‘It has been about me getting in a positive mindset and getting my mentality stronger. ‘He has definitely helped me. I have been seeing him here with the national team. Most of the boys do. He just gets it into your head that mentality is key — and a strong part of it is blocking certain things out and focusing singularly on your football. I have been working on that. He was with us at Liverpool and since I moved to City I didn’t have a chance to work with him. So since I joined up with England I have started speaking to him, it is a real bonus for me.’ Sterling impressed during the win over Australia on Friday night, assisting both goals and forming a promising partnership with Marcus Rashford. ‘I would say to Marcus to keep on doing what he is doing,’ Sterling added. ‘He has been really eager since he joined up.’