Stevie: Sterling can hit England heights
Raheem Sterling will reproduce his thrilling club form at international level with England and has the potential to reach a century of caps, according to his Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.
The 19-year-old was a stand-out performer in a frustrating World Cup campaign for the Three Lions this summer, which quickly ended in elimination after the group stage in Brazil.
On show for the world to see was the pace, fearlessness and energy that Sterling had provided the Reds during their surge to second place in the Barclays Premier League last season.
Gerrard expects England to benefit from the forward's growing instinct inside opposition penalty areas in the near future, and tipped his young colleague to reach a special milestone.
"He is as strong as an ox, he never gets knocked off the ball and has electric pace," the Anfield skipper, who retired from international football on 114 appearances, commented in a Daily Mail column.
"The goals and assists you are seeing him produce for Liverpool are one day soon going to be coming for England. He and [Everton midfielder Ross] Barkley are prime candidates to join the 100-cap club."