Tuesday, 23rd July, 2013

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has said that Raheem Sterling is in better shape than he was last term.

The 18-year-old is part of the Reds pre-season campaign and is expected to play a big role in the club’s upcoming Premier League season.



Though the youngster made his debut as a substitute against Wigan during Kenny Dalglish’s reign, Sterling’s real break came under Rodgers, who made the winger a first team regular at the age of just 17.

Sterling also earned a senior cap for England during that period, but an injury and concern from his manager that a full season in the starting line-up might be too much at such a young age, forced the youngster out of the limelight.

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However, the 18-year-old has looked good in pre-season and even scored in the Reds’ friendly game against Preston North End.

Rodgers told his club’s official site: "It was a year ago when I came into the club and he came away with us on pre-season as a reserve/youth-team player and his enthusiasm, quality and tenacity really hit me.

"He ended up starting the season after the West Brom game and for the first six months, he was sensational. He ended up getting a full England cap, which shows you the impact he made at 17 years of age. He went on to make over 30 appearances.

"Towards the end of the season, there was a natural drop-off purely because of the youthfulness of him and also because of the pressure of playing for Liverpool and at the very top end of the game.

"I took him out of that, he had a little injury at the end of the season as well, but I wanted to protect him and make sure he doesn’t have too many miles on the clock too early.

"He’s now re-joined the group and I’ve got to say, I thought he was outstanding the other night.

"He looks so fit, he looks sharp, he looks better than what he was last summer when I came in, and I think he’ll play a big part for us again this season."  
Sterling has a contract with Liverpool until 2018 and has scored twice in his 27 league appearances for the club over a span of two seasons.

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