'Sterling could help breed winning mentality'
Saturday 4 October 2014 19:05, UK
Can eligible players 'outgrow' the England Under-21 set-up? That's a difficult question to answer – but one that was raised when the national team squads were announced on Thursday.
While Raheem Sterling and Jack Wilshere – two players who can technically still represent the U21s - remain firmly set in the senior team, Calum Chambers and Luke Shaw, who have recently been in Roy Hodgson’s camp, were shifted to Gareth Southgate’s junior team.
First and foremost, let me say playing for your country, no matter what level it is, is a great honour. There’s nothing like pulling on that white shirt and Three Lions. It’s a great feeling and playing for England was the proudest moment of my career.
I’m not saying that with Sterling England would be guaranteed to win the U21 Euros but, if you look at the young players we have, they would stand a very good chance.
For players such as Liam Moore, who is at my club Leicester, his England U21 call-up is a great reward for the performances he’s put in so far this season.
He’s been one of our standout performers and played every minute of every game this term – and that’s great credit to him because he lost his place at the back end of 2013/14.
He’s 21 years old and playing for Southgate’s side is giving him great experience of international football. Should England U21s get through their play-off with Croatia and Liam is selected for the European U21 Championship finals next summer, playing in a tournament like that will also be a great learning curve for him.
And that’s what the U21s is all about. It’s a stepping stone to help young players understand how the national system works so they’re well prepared - on and off the pitch - for the full national team.
That’s why I have no problem with players such as Chambers and Shaw moving down to the U21s, despite being in previous senior squads. These are young players still learning their trade and all these experiences will benefit them in the long run.
The likes of Sterling, though, are an exception to that.
He’s been outstanding for Liverpool and did well for England at the World Cup. He’s a player we can’t overlook because we are lacking in that area; we need his creativity, whereas we do have defensive options other than Shaw and Chambers.
Another aspect to this issue is what happens at the U21 Euros next summer, should England qualify. Should Southgate get Sterling and Wilshere involved to boost our chances of winning the tournament – or does he stand by the regular U21 squad?
I can see arguments from both sides. Does Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers really want to see his young star Sterling going off to the Czech Republic next summer, having played in the last World Cup in Brazil and a full season at Anfield?
Sterling could end up playing a full 2015/16 season on the back of the U21 tournament before going on to Euro 2016 with England – when does he get a break?
But I can also see the supporters’ point of view; we want our best young players playing to give us the best chance of winning – and breeding a winning mentality.
We have to get the balance right – but if it was my call I’d have no problem with Sterling going to the U21 Euros.
Hopefully he would help the team do well, then, when that group of players comes up to the national team, they’ve won something and know how it feels to win something in international football.
I’m not saying that with Sterling they’d be guaranteed to win the U21 Euros but, if you look at the young players we have, they would stand a very good chance.
These U21 players are going to be our future. If they come together in the summer they will know how each other plays - and when they do make the step up together, perhaps in time for Euro 2016, they’ll have the togetherness and tournament experience which might make it easier for them as full internationals.
