Sterling company will help Raheem
thesun
STEWART DOWNING has told Liverpool team-mate Raheem Sterling to enjoy every minute of his England call-up.
Sterling, 17, was drafted into the squad by former Reds boss Roy Hodgson due to the withdrawal of Theo Walcott and concerns over Daniel Sturridges fitness.
He is unlikely to be involved against Ukraine in tonights Group H qualifier at Wembley, but Downing reckons the winger will come away a better player for the experience.
Downing said: Credit where credit is due, hes a good player.
He deserved his chance and hes done well in two difficult games for Liverpool against Manchester City and Arsenal.
We werent great against Arsenal but I thought he was one of our stand-out players.
Hes very mature for his age. He listens and hes got a good future.
Raheems got a lot of experienced players around him and that is similar to how it was for me at Middlesbrough when I was young.
I played with a lot of top professionals like Paul Ince and Gareth Southgate and had good people around me who could help.
Raheems certainly in good company and I think in terms of advice I would tell him to listen and learn and just keep doing what hes doing at the moment.
Take advice from the manager and listen to the players who are on the pitch on the day.
Downings own focus is to regain his place in Liverpools starting line-up.
He has filled in at left-back on occasion for boss Brendan Rodgers but is keen to get back on the wing.
Downing, 28, said: I just want to play. I think for me its a case of being adaptable and playing anywhere.
In the modern game you have to be able to play in two or three positions.
First and foremost Im an attacking player but if the manager needs me to help out at the back then Im willing to do so.
Playing left-back has been demanding. I was up and down the wing and it involved a lot of running but as long as you are involved in the game and get plenty of the ball you tend to enjoy it more.
I played there a few times at Aston Villa but I played there during the UEFA Cup campaign with Middlesbrough in 2005-06.
I was playing wing-back, similar to how I have done in recent games here at Liverpool, so I think thats what the manager has seen and maybe he thinks I can do the job there.
Sterling, 17, was drafted into the squad by former Reds boss Roy Hodgson due to the withdrawal of Theo Walcott and concerns over Daniel Sturridges fitness.
He is unlikely to be involved against Ukraine in tonights Group H qualifier at Wembley, but Downing reckons the winger will come away a better player for the experience.
Downing said: Credit where credit is due, hes a good player.
He deserved his chance and hes done well in two difficult games for Liverpool against Manchester City and Arsenal.
We werent great against Arsenal but I thought he was one of our stand-out players.
Hes very mature for his age. He listens and hes got a good future.
Raheems got a lot of experienced players around him and that is similar to how it was for me at Middlesbrough when I was young.
I played with a lot of top professionals like Paul Ince and Gareth Southgate and had good people around me who could help.
Raheems certainly in good company and I think in terms of advice I would tell him to listen and learn and just keep doing what hes doing at the moment.
Take advice from the manager and listen to the players who are on the pitch on the day.
Downings own focus is to regain his place in Liverpools starting line-up.
He has filled in at left-back on occasion for boss Brendan Rodgers but is keen to get back on the wing.
Downing, 28, said: I just want to play. I think for me its a case of being adaptable and playing anywhere.
In the modern game you have to be able to play in two or three positions.
First and foremost Im an attacking player but if the manager needs me to help out at the back then Im willing to do so.
Playing left-back has been demanding. I was up and down the wing and it involved a lot of running but as long as you are involved in the game and get plenty of the ball you tend to enjoy it more.
I played there a few times at Aston Villa but I played there during the UEFA Cup campaign with Middlesbrough in 2005-06.
I was playing wing-back, similar to how I have done in recent games here at Liverpool, so I think thats what the manager has seen and maybe he thinks I can do the job there.
