Raheem Sterling ready to end England goal drought with fans’ help | Nick Ames

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Manchester City winger has not scored for his country since 2015 but has hit new heights this season thanks to Pep Guardiola

It underlined the lightness that pervades the England camp nowadays when, answering a question about an international goal drought that has stretched two and a half years, Raheem Sterling felt able to aim a mild tease towards his manager. “I think it is because the gaffer takes me off early,” he joked and Gareth Southgate, sitting a few feet to his left, was as happy to laugh as anybody else. Sterling had fancied his chances of rediscovering his touch in the latter stages of Friday’s win against the Netherlands; his 70th‑minute withdrawal put paid to that, although Southgate had made a point of praising his performance as he left the Johan Cruyff Arena pitch.

How far it already feels from last September, when Sterling was replaced at half-time in Malta and Southgate admitted the move was made “for the good of the team”. That was not even one of the darkest days in an England shirt for Sterling, who has been a lightning rod for some outrageous instances of abuse after past disappointments, but a coruscating season with Manchester City has clearly had an effect and it was a relaxed, good-humoured figure who spoke at Tottenham’s training ground on Monday afternoon.

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from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/mar/26/raheem-sterling-end-england-goal-drought-fans-help

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