Gerrard tips big things for Sterling

Steven Gerrard has tipped Liverpool team-mate Raheem Sterling to be a regular in the England team before too long.

The pair started together in their country’s friendly defeat against Sweden on Wednesday, where Sterling debuted at just 17 years and 341 days old, the fifth-youngest player ever to play for England.

Gerrard believes Sterling is poised for stardom, and contrasted his own footballing education to the Jamaican-born winger’s rapid ascent to the England team on Wednesday.

“When I was 17, I was an apprentice at Liverpool cleaning boots in the changing room. It goes to show how far he has come in a short space of time,” he told The Telegraph.

“I thought he was brilliant. He has learnt really quickly in a Liverpool shirt and he will do the same for England. It won’t be long before he is a regular and he is going to be a phenomenal talent.”