Brendan Rodgers: England and Liverpool can't afford to "waste" talent like Raheem Sterling

Brendan Rodgers has voiced his concerns regarding the way young English talent is treated in this country and claims asking for so much at such a young age could have a detrimental affect on the players career.

The Liverpool manager has first-hand experience of such a situation after Raheem Sterling was called up to the senior side last season at just 17 years of age. Although he feels the call-up hasn’t had an adverse affect on the Liverpool youngster, the former Swansea manager believes far too many players are fast-tracked into the England set-up and then completely forgotten about.

“At that point in time he was one of the best young players in the country and he went into that game and actually did well.

“But it is about managing expectations – that is the biggest thing with a young player. You have to be so careful because there are so many young players in the country who get a cap and then are forgotten about.

“It can cause issues. It hasn’t as such, but I’m talking about young players here and not just Raheem.

“If they get projected into the international teams too early there can be a misplaced belief that they are considered ‘international players’ when sometimes the circumstances dictate that.”

Rodgers, who handed Sterling his first start for the club when he was 17 years of age, went on to say that young players must be given game time to gain experience, but they also must be nurtured and looked after if they are to live upto their potential.

“He showed over the first six months of last season that he has a future in the Premier League and at Liverpool.

“It was going to be very difficult to maintain the level that he set himself, but he is only 18 years of age and as much as we want to play young players and give them the opportunity, there is a nurturing phase as well.

“We have to be careful and avoid what has probably happened too often over the years in football and discard young players too early. I don’t need them ready at 17. If they are, great, but certainly at 20 or 21, we would love them to be ready.

“England are looking to get the best young players in and, at the time, he was one of the best young players. We just have to make sure we remember his age and at what point he is at in his career and make sure we don’t waste it.”

Despite starting 19 of the 23 Premier League games before Philippe Coutinho arrived at Anfield last season, Sterling has struggled to break into the starting eleven since the Brazilian’s arrival and with Victor Moses and Iago Aspas also competing for places it may be time for the youngster to go out on loan. If he is not to fall into the abyss of forgotten footballers then Sterling must be playing football and keep his mind on the game, a sentiment echoed by the Liverpool boss.

“For Raheem, football has to be very much at the forefront of his mind. If it is, he is a talent.”

Only Luis Suarez (95) and Glen Johnson (61) successfully completed more take-ons than Raheem Sterling (46) for Liverpool last season.

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