Gareth Southgate has admitted Raheem Sterling’s absence from the England squad is “not good preparation” ahead of Saturday’s crunch World Cup quarter-final with France but says he still supports the forward’s decision to return to the UK following a break-in at his home.
Sterling is back at England’s World Cup camp in Qatar and is set to return to training on Friday but Southgate has condeded the 28-year-old may not feature against the defending champions France after missing key training sessions this week.
When asked by ITV about Sterling’s availability for Saturday’s quarter-final, Southgate said: “We will have to assess that. He has missed a lot of training and had two long flights.
“That is not good preparation for a game of this standard but let’s see how he is.”
The England manager reiterated his support for Sterling, who did not feature in Sunday’s last-16 win against Senegal having returned to England following an incident at his family home in Surrey.
Sterling was left “shaken” by the incident and Southgate said: “He has felt the need to support his family and to be there for his family and that is a simple decision for me – I have to support the player.
“There are moments for every individual where family becomes most important. I’m always supportive of that.
“Of course I want the best players available and want to win football matches but as a manager you have to recognise there are certain moments in people’s lives that are more important at that particular time.”
Sources close to Sterling initially indicated armed intruders had broken into his home while his family were inside, but subsequent police statements said the occupants of the house had reported items missing after returning to the family home from an international trip.
Police said on Monday they were working to establish precisely when the break-in took place, and also offered assurances to the local public that no witness statements had been made regarding the involvement of armed suspects or threats of violence.
Surrey Police issued a statement on Wednesday morning saying they were working to establish whether the arrest of two men on Tuesday night in an area close to where Sterling lives had any connection to the burglary at his home, which was reported on Saturday.
That is understood to have brought initial peace of mind to Sterling, although an update on Wednesday afternoon said “at this time” the arrests were not being linked to the break-in at his house.
“He has felt the need to support his family and to be there for his family and that is a simple decision for me - I have to support the player,” Southgate said.
“I remember Fabian Delph going home, his wife was expecting in Russia (during the last World Cup). We did the same thing.
“There are moments for every individual where family becomes most important. I’m always supportive of that.
“Of course I want the best players available and want to win football matches. But as a manager you have to recognise there are certain moments in people’s lives that are more important at that particular time.”
Includes reporting from PA
