Rooney can show Sterling & Co the way

GARETH SOUTHGATE believes Raheem Sterling and the rest of his young England stars can take inspiration and motivation from the magnificent international career of Wayne Rooney.

Amid the controversy surrounding the inclusion of the former Manchester United ace in his squad to face the USA this week, the Three Lions supremo insisted

Sterling and Co could one day be deemed as influential for the national team as Rooney.

England’s all-time record goalscorer, 33, will have a cameo role off the bench at Wembley on Thursday to mark and celebrate his prolific achievements on the world stage during more than a decade leading the country’s line.

Asked if the one-off send-off might set a dangerous precedent, Southgate responded by stating it would take ‘some effort’ for anyone to match Rooney’s remarkable stats of 53 goals in 119 games.

Yet he was equally quick to stress that players such as Sterling, still only 23, have enough time ahead of them to at least run

Roo (right) close – and possibly go even further by actually helping

England lift win some silverware.

Southgate said: “Every player will look at how their team-mates or former players are treated and they will feel, ‘That might be me one day’.

“Whether that’s how I treat those players as a coach or how the organisation treats them or how their club treats them, there’s always a thought in your mind, as a player, about that. We have got some young players who have the opportunity to really have a big impact with England.

“The one bit Wayne has talked to me about is he regrets there wasn’t that team success at the level he wanted with England.” The idea of a farewell game for Sterling (left) at the end of his England career would have been inconceivable a few months ago. Ridiculed for his inability to find the net for his country in two-and-a-half years, many felt he was unworthy of a starting place. Now, though, having ended his England goal blues with a double in the win over Spain last month – taking his overall tally to four in 46 games – Sterling is suddenly receiving plaudits galore rather than criticism. Nine goals in 16 outings for club and country this term – and a sackful of assists – arguably makes the City ace the Premier League’s best performer going into today’s Manchester derby. Southgate, likely to keep Sterling back and fresh for the UEFA Nations League clash against Croatia on Sunday, is delighted.

He added: “I was at City last weekend and Raheem was outstanding against Southampton. “The missing piece with him and England had been goals – and you could see what it meant to him.

“That was a big psychological barrier.”