Raheem Sterling had a "really, really bad time" during Chelsea's defeat to Brighton on Saturday according to former Blues star Pat Nevin, who says the 27-year-old doesn't deserve a World Cup place on current form.
Former Liverpool and Manchester City winger Sterling was substituted just after the hour mark of Chelsea's 4-1 defeat at Amex Stadium, and the England international is now without a Premier League goal since August.
Sterling has also failed to score in his last eight appearances for Chelsea in all competitions, with his last goal coming in the Champions League draw with Salzburg in September in Graham Potter's first game in charge.
Potter endured a miserable return to former club Brighton on Saturday, where his side fell 3-0 down by half-time thanks to a Leandro Trossard strike and own goals from Blues pair Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Trevoh Chalobah.
Kai Havertz pulled one back for Chelsea at the start of the second half, but there was to be no comeback for Potter's men despite the manager seeking to change things by brining off Sterling, ex-Brighton defender Marc Cucurella, Conor Gallagher and Christian Pulisic.
Pascal Gross then added a fourth for the Seagulls in stoppage time.
Summarising the match for BBC Radio Five Live, pundit Nevin tore into Sterling's display during the first-half as Chelsea found themselves 2-0 down.
"I'm watching Raheem Sterling right now and I've said that Graham Potter has got the best from every player since he has been there, with one exception. Raheem Sterling," said Nevin..
"If he keeps playing the way he is right now, he's not even a consideration for the World Cup. He is having a really really bad time and today he is having an absolutely terrible game."
Sterling has 79 caps for England, scoring 19 goals, and was named in the Euro 2020 team of the tournament last summer after scoring three times during England's run to the final.
However he is without a goal in his last five England appearances, and he has seen his place in Gareth Southgate's plans come under threat from other attackers in the Three Lions squad.
Potter has played Sterling in a variety of positions since arriving at Chelsea, including at wing-back, and speaking before the Brighton game he said he wasn't concerned with his form.
"It's not something we have to zoom in to one person," he told reporters.
"As a team, we can do better, and if we do better as a team, then individuals will benefit from that, so that's where the work is.”
"He's got the flexibility, ability and quality to play in several positions. It's not straightforward with losing the players we have [to injury].
"So you're constantly trying to find the right balance, and find the right solutions. But he can help us in a number of positions."
