Football

Montenegro vs England: Gareth Southgate hails maturing Raheem Sterling as future Three Lions captain



Gareth Southgate says Raheem Sterling has the making of a future England captain, and that he has already become a senior figure in the squad who young players look up to. The manager has been keen to create an atmosphere of camaraderie in the group, and he feels the 24-year-old has been key to that, as he is one of the first to welcome any new call-ups.

Sterling scored his first hat-trick for England against Czech Republic on Friday, but all around the camp feel that just reflects how he has become so mature in all aspects of his career.

“We’ve had three or four players captaining the team, and Raheem is developing lots of the qualities those guys have,” Southgate said ahead of England’s Euro 2020 qualifier away to Montenegro. “He has those qualities. It’s difficult to talk about a potential captain when the captain [Harry Kane] is in the hotel waiting to go out for dinner, but in terms of his personal qualities, he’s shown some outstanding personal qualities.”

Southgate revealed on Friday that he had already elevated Sterling to England’s “leadership group” – that consists of him, Jordan Henderson, Eric Dier, Kane, Fabian Delph and Ashley Young at the World Cup.

“In between November and March, observing his maturity and influence, I felt that would be a good step for him,” Southgate said. “I think when you speak to other young players, he’s one of the first they speak about making them feel really comfortable in the environment. That was a really important move for him.”

His contribution has also proved important for the team’s spirit.

“There’s a bit of everything. Definitely the types of players, the characters we’re bringing in… It would be unfair to say that there wasn’t a good spirit before,” Southgate added. “There was. They got on.

“There are links with Sterling having been with Henderson at Liverpool, Walker having been with the Spurs players, lots playing junior football together, the south London posse, the under-21s… It’s very rare that a player comes in and doesn’t know anybody.

“It’s important we foster that with the environment we create so they have the freedom to sit and chat, and look forward to coming away. Whenever I played at club level, the Aussies couldn’t wait to play with Australia to meet up with their mates. That’s what it was with me when I first started with England, and that’s what is happening with this group.”

Sterling scored his first England hat-trick vs Czech Republic (Getty)

Team-mate Henderson meanwhile says he has been struck by how Sterling has grown into a leader, since their time together at Liverpool, and says the forward’s ambition is to be the best in the world.

“It’s been really good for me because I’m close to him, to see his progression as a player and a person,” said Henderson. ”We knew he had something special at Liverpool. You could see how good he was, and he had the right mentality.

Sterling pays tribute to Damary Dawkins (Getty)

“He loved football and worked so hard, as well as doing all the good things he can do. He’s a great lad as well, a great character to have in the team. I feel as though he’s more of a leader now in the England team. That’s come with experience. But he’s always had that good mentality towards football.

“I knew from the minute I started training with him that he’s a special player. He’s proved how good he is in the last couple of years. He can still get better, and he will do. Everyone has seen how special he is for England and City.

“He wants to play at the top. He wants to improve, be the best player in the world. That will be one of his aims in the future. For me, he’s going in the right direction. We all know how good a player he is, and he has the right mentality to keep wanting more and stay hungry. It’s been a pleasure to watch him grow in the last few years.”

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