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Monday 14 October 2013

Raheem Sterling is Roy Hodgson's 'get out of jail' card for crucial Poland clash

Raheem Sterling is Roy Hodgson's 'get out of jail' card for crucial Poland clash

Liverpool teenager a late call-up to the squad following injury to Tom Cleverley and Kyle Walker's suspension
Plan B: Raheem Sterling is Roy's wildcard
Plan B: Raheem Sterling is Roy's wildcard
Getty
Raheem Sterling has been earmarked for an England World Cup ­international rescue mission tomorrow.
The teenage flier joined the England squad at The Grove yesterday after Roy Hodgson lost Tom Cleverley and the suspended Kyle Walker.
Now Sterling is set to go from an Under-21 start in San Marino on Friday night to being Hodgson’s ‘get out of jail’ card if things are not working against Poland at Wembley.
England must beat the Poles to qualify for Brazil with Ukraine certain to take three points off San Marino.
And while Hodgson will stick with Tottenham winger Andros Townsend on the right after his terrific goal-scoring debut against Montenegro, the England boss revealed Sterling was not brought in merely to make up the numbers.
Hodgson said: “You can’t use 22 players and we all know that. But with Tom Cleverley going down, so that we were one short on the players we could’ve used against Montenegro, and with Kyle Walker now being booked, if there’s any area in our squad of 23 where perhaps an extra type of player could be useful then I think it’s the wide areas.
“We have Danny Welbeck and Townsend but Cleverley, who could’ve played there, is gone. I think Raheem Sterling is the type of player who can, if we need him, do what Andros did on Friday.”
It was a clear and unequivocal vote of support for Sterling, whose only Premier League start this season was in the recent 3-1 win over Crystal Palace.
Hodgson demonstrated his faith in Sterling’s potential 13 months ago when he was added to the squad ahead of the home game with Ukraine, although he stayed on the bench.
Two months later, Sterling, now 18, started in the 4-2 defeat by Sweden in Stockholm, making a positive contribution as he kept coming back for more despite taking more than a few whacks and having a hand in both England goals.
England team line up
England team line up
PA

Hodgson said afterwards: “I half hoped to see some of the things we saw from him. He had a difficult start and I was a bit concerned how he’d react to that.
“But I thought his reaction was very good and he had a golden spell towards the end of the first half and the beginning of the second and that bodes very well for the future.”
Sterling had to be content with a return to the junior ranks for the rest of last season, winning in all six appearances for the Under-21s.
Although until he plays a competitive senior game, he could still be nabbed by Jamaica – he was born in Kingston and lived on the island to the age of five – making his potential ­appearance tomorrow a decisive day for the teenager.
Hodgson will hope that the call to Sterling can be made from a position of strength rather than weakness.
But the England boss ­genuinely believes the Liverpool winger can have a part to play in Brazil. And that he might, if required, be able to ensure the Three Lions get there too.

Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/england-v-poland-raheem-sterling-2368478#ixzz2hgPGHPHI

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