Gareth Southgate acknowledges that Raheem Sterling faces an uphill battle to revive his England career. Despite making 82 appearances for England since his debut in 2012, with 18 of his 20 goals under Southgate’s tenure, Sterling has recently struggled to secure a spot in the national team. His absence from the England squad for the sixth consecutive time signals a challenging period for the Chelsea forward.
Sterling’s last appearance for England was during the 2022 World Cup quarterfinal defeat to France in Qatar. Since then, players like Jarrod Bowen, Cole Palmer, and Anthony Gordon have surpassed him in the team’s pecking order. Although Sterling has featured in most of Chelsea’s Premier League games this season, his playing time has diminished as the campaign progresses.
Southgate emphasizes that Sterling’s England career is not over yet, but he faces stiff competition from emerging talents like Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon. With Bowen’s prolific goal-scoring and the established performances of Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka, Sterling must fight for his place in the squad.
While Southgate acknowledges Sterling’s past contributions and leadership qualities, he emphasizes the need to balance loyalty with performance. Sterling, who will turn 30 this year, has previously captained England and expressed private frustration over recent omissions from the team.
Southgate affirms the ongoing evaluation of players’ abilities and emphasizes the importance of providing opportunities for new talents like Gordon. Despite the competition, Southgate leaves the door open for Sterling’s return, highlighting his potential impact in crucial games. However, Sterling must prove himself amidst fierce competition to reclaim his spot in the England setup.
