RAHEEM STERLING has no concerns about impressing the new Liverpool manager when he returns to pre-season training at Melwood this week – because Brendan Rodgers has already been sufficiently impressed to try and take the young Reds winger to Swansea on-loan last season!
Rodgers tried to lure the 17-year-old to Wales in January, three months before he was given his senior debut by Kenny Dalglish.
That came against Wigan in March – almost a year after Sterling was first included in a senior squad for a Europa league tie at Sparta Prague – and he ended the season with two further substitute appearances, plus a belated visit to Swansea on the final day of the season as an unused substitute.
On a visit to Jamaica last week, Sterling told the Jamaican Gleaner: “He (Dalglish) is the one who gave me my debut, so I am grateful for that. To make my debut for Liverpool at 17 is quite an achievement, so I am happy that he had faith in me.
“But it’s actually quite a good trade because he wanted me to come down to Swansea on loan (last season), so he is a good manager!”
Sterling joined the Reds as a 15-year-old from Queens Park Rangers and was catapulted into the spotlight when he scored five goals in a 9-0 FA Youth Cup victory over Southend in February 2011.
That earned him his trip to Prague, when his youth meant he required a guardian travelling with him.
After a late substitute appearance against Wigan at in March, two further substitute appearances followed against Fulham and Chelsea.
He returned to Jamaica recently to attend the funeral of his grandfather, and his presence in Maverley was reported to have given the local community a huge lift.
“He is definitely a positive influence,” his mother, Nadine, told The Gleaner. “He was born and bred in Maverley and I have even started suggesting to him that when everything is settled and the time is right, it would be great for him to go back to Jamaica, to his former school in particular, and talk to the kids about not giving up on their dreams and working hard for success and stuff like that.”
Sterling himself spoke of the positive influence senior Anfield figures like Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher have had on his development.
“It is good playing with players like Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher,” Sterling added.
“There was one time I came on and they were giving me the ball to say go and attack the full-back, so it was good to know that they had confidence in me and see me as a young player who is good enough.
“I have travelled with the first team down to places like Arsenal in the past, but I did not make the bench or anything so it was good to go on.
“Hopefully, this season I will make a full breakthrough for the Liverpool first team and see where it goes from there.”
