England head coach Gareth Southgate has, on Thursday evening, provided an insight into the reaction of Raheem Sterling to news of his omission from the country’s latest squad.
The Three Lions’ panel of stars for the upcoming international break, of course, was unveiled earlier today.
Ahead of a pair of meetings with Ukraine and Scotland, the aforementioned Southgate opted to call upon a whole host of headline performers, including the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane.
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One major omission, however, was also forthcoming.
This came in the form of Chelsea star Raheem Sterling.
Fresh off a fine opening to the new campaign, featuring most recently a brace and an assist against Luton Town, winger Sterling was widely expected to be afforded a recall to England’s ranks on Thursday.
None, though, appear to have been left more disappointed by Southgate’s call than Sterling himself.
Speaking to the media this evening, England’s boss was drawn on the latest exclusion of a once-integral member of his attacking setup.
And Southgate, first, provided an insight into the reasoning behind his decision:
“We were really pleased with the group. To bring Raheem back in, we have to leave someone else out — and on the basis of three [club] games, I don’t think anyone deserves to be left out.
“It is really good to see Raheem start the season so well. He looks fit and hungry, but in those attacking positions behind the nine, we have a lot of competition.”
From here, the tactician went on to reveal that Sterling was ‘not particularly happy’ with the news of his Three Lions absence, albeit whilst reiterating that he holds the 28-year-old in high regard:
“He was not available for the last two, and that has given other people the opportunity to play well and establish themselves in the group. It is a difficult call and Raheem is not particularly happy about it, but he is an excellent player.”
Gareth Southgate admits Chelsea star Raheem Sterling was ‘not particularly happy’ to miss out on England recall
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