Sterling signs £300,000-a-week deal

Raheem Sterling has given Manchester City a huge boost on the eve of the derby by signing a three-year contract extension and revealed the key to his outstanding start to the season – lots of Jamaican food.

The England forward’s new deal ties him to City until June 2023 and is worth up to £300,000 a week including bonuses.

Only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has claimed more goals and assists in the Premier League since the start of last season than Sterling’s combined total of 40 but he is convinced there is far more to come.

The 23-year-old believes a healthy selection of Jamaican food, as well as the work of Pep Guardiola’s assistant, Mikel Arteta, is behind his burgeoning form.

Asked why he looks so electric at the moment, Sterling said: “Just getting my Jamaican food in at home, getting someone to cook up some Jamaican food every day.

“I always want to get better and get my numbers up, score more goals and get more assists. I’m delighted to sign. My development here has been incredible.”

Guardiola has claimed Sterling is no longer “scared” in front of goal and the player says he is much calmer now. “Probably just not rushing [has helped],” Sterling said. “You see a goal and your eyes light up and you kind of get giddy but, with time and watching myself over on clips, I started to realise what I was doing in front of goal, I stopped rushing, took my time and started being more ruthless and not thinking about it too much.

“Mikel does individual bits with all the attackers. He tries to help me, but not just Mikel, all the staff. But they can only do so much, when you step on to the pitch you’ve got to replicate what you’ve been doing in training, but Mikel has been tremendous to work with.”