Weather Tonight: 8°c Light showers Morning: 13°c Light showers

Football

HEADLINES:
Raheem Sterling
One to watch: Raheem Sterling has attracted the interest of Manchester United and Liverpool

Raheem Sterling prepares for England debut as QPR insist he will not leave Loftus Road

David Yuill
05.11.09

Scouts from across the Premier League will be heading to the Deva Stadium in Chester tonight, desperate for a glimpse of a 14-year-old London schoolboy.

Queens Park Rangers sensation Raheem Sterling, who has attracted the interest of Manchester United and Liverpool, is set to make his England Under16 debut against Northern Ireland. The Harlesden-born striker is likely to feature from the bench for Kenny Swain's side.

Steve Gallen, QPR's head of youth development, is well aware of Sterling's growing profile but is confident he will not be tempted away from the club he joined as a 10year-old.

Gallen said: "I'm not one bit bothered about the other clubs. QPR are a big club and at no stage has he said he wants to go.

"He's not interested in all the stuff around him - whether it's in the street, the car park or wherever; he just wants to play football all the time.

"It is a big ambition of his to represent England. I'm just really pleased he can do that while playing for QPR."

Rangers boss Jim Magilton has been so impressed with the youngster, who scored on his Under-18 debut last month, that Sterling (right) trained with the first team last week.

It is also believed Magilton has lined up a senior game next month once Sterling turns 15 - which would make him the youngest player to appear in English football.

Gallen said: "He has loads of natural ability. This boy can pass, shoot, head it, score goals, tackle, defend, anything. He will be in our reserves quite soon and we will protect him from there."

Live on Sky Sports 1, 7.40pm

Reader views (1)

 Add your view

Fourteen?

Loads of time to not make it yet, and no that isn't a dig, that's experience of this country's best youth academy over the years.

- Stu, Beckton


Add your comment

 

Your email address will not be published

Terms and conditions make text area bigger You have  characters left.


 


London's Weather
Tonight
Light showers
8°c
Morning
Light showers
13°c
5 day forecast