Raheem Sterling’s impact had been felt long before Friday’s kick-off at Wembley on another night when his star shone brightly. These days it is more than just the football.
Friday brought a second hat-trick of the month, his goal-scoring knack and ruthlessness on display at the stadium he grew up watching being rebuilt — but something else was noted in the tunnel.
At the back of England’s line waiting to head out was Sterling, chatting animatedly with two young men who are benefitting from his experiences — good and bad. Callum Hudson- Odoi and Jadon Sancho stood with the Manchester City forward, joking and giggling, talking about what might unfold against the Czech Republic.
Raheem Sterling's rise has seen him become one of the best players in the England team
The 24-year-old produced a sublime hat-trick against the Czech Republic on Friday
The teenagers are relaxed, comfortable in Sterling’s company. The pair, who left north London with mementos — a promising first competitive international start for Sancho and Hudson-Odoi’s debut — hang on Sterling’s every word. That Sancho has never been far from Sterling’s side over the past few days at St George’s Park has not gone unnoticed.
It is beyond question that Sterling has become an identifiable icon, although he still finds it surreal that he is having such an impact on these young careers. Regardless, with 48 caps, he is the newest member of Gareth Southgate’s ‘leadership group’ and is said to be relishing that role, although imparting wisdom for those who want it is not a new concept for him.
Sancho profited hugely from Sterling’s advice while still at City and continues to do so, even though he is at Borussia Dortmund.
Sterling, 24, even sent a text of encouragement to Mason Greenwood, 17, at Manchester United after his breakthrough into first-team training at City’s rivals.
Forget Sterling’s goals and the statistics for a minute, these are also genuine markers of his growth into a seasoned professional — one who is not 25 until December.
Sterling (right) and Jadon Sancho share a joke prior to the Euro 2020 qualifying clash
Sancho in particular can relate to Sterling’s journey. Both left underprivileged parts of the capital in their mid-teens. Now the latter is keen to make sure their starts as professionals differ, telling Sancho to ‘wake up’ to off-field distractions that he openly admits once hampered him.
With increased maturity, Sterling’s numbers have improved year on year. Yet he feels that his recent goal explosion could have come earlier.
Another message he tells the kids is to ignore bad luck or unjustified criticism. He has endured plenty of that and it is only 18 months since Sterling was booed by a section of England’s travelling fans in Malta.
Supporters jeered Sterling’s indecisiveness at Wembley against Slovenia a month later, October 2017, with groans of discontent as Southgate substituted him with five minutes to play.
The vitriol towards Sterling became so intense, and so noticeable at Premier League grounds up and down the country, that team-mate Kevin De Bruyne leapt to his defence.
Sterling smiles next to Sancho during England's training session at St George's Park on Sunday
Sterling had branded himself ‘The Hated One’ after that European Championship in 2016 and De Bruyne, standing outside Stoke’s Bet365 Stadium after another afternoon of abuse, let rip at England fans.
Sterling was affected by negativity to such an extent that England’s coaching staff believed it might derail his international career.
City, and Pep Guardiola, have worked on
