Raheem Sterling is ready to make the most of his
attacking versatility as England face up to their crunch FIFA World Cup clash
with Uruguay.
Sterling was arguably England's star performer as Italy
claimed a keenly contested 2-1 victory in their opening Group D game, deployed
in the 'number 10' role behind Liverpool team-mate Daniel Sturridge.
A right-winger by trade, it was a role the 19-year-old
excelled in as the Merseyside club took the Premier League title race to the
wire, and he was similarly effective in national colours.
"I just had to take it in my stride," he said
of his major tournament debut.
"It's been a new position that the manager at
Liverpool (Brendan Rodgers) has tried to do with me and something I try to
learn every day in training.
"To play at this level you need to play in numerous
positions. I wasn't really nervous, just trying to help my team as best as
possible to either create something or try and win the game. We were unlucky
not to win."
Roy Hodgson's decision to select Sterling in-field
against Italy was largely responsible for Wayne Rooney taking on an unfamiliar
wide-left role.
Despite laying on Sturridge's first-half equaliser in
Manaus from that flank, the Manchester United forward's patchy display has come
in for both widespread media scrutiny and staunch defence from those within the
England camp.
With Sturridge expected to shake off the dead leg that
hindered him in the closing stages against Italy and resume central striking
duties on Thursday, Sterling moving to the right and the similarly impressive
Danny Welbeck switching wings to the left would appear the most likely way for
Hodgson to hand Rooney the central role he craves.
There will be no such debate over Uruguay's most
effective attacking formation if Sterling and Sturridge's club-mate Luis Suarez
is passed fit following his recovery from minor knee surgery.
Coach Oscar Tabarez has threatened to ring the changes
following his team's shock 3-1 loss to Costa Rica - a game Suarez sat out - and
the English PFA and Football Writers' Player of the Year is expected to return
for the must-win clash.
Suarez’s Liverpool colleague Sebastian Coates is one of
those who could benefit from a Tabarez overhaul.
The centre-back rates his three English colleagues highly
but believes, in Suarez, Uruguay hold the jewel in the crown.
Coates told the Guardian: "Sterling is extremely
quick, he goes outside defenders, takes them on, makes things happen and looks
to put the ball in the box.
"Sturridge is similar to Luis: he's always looking
to score, always trying to force the mistake and take advantage. He has a lot
of technical ability and when he’s one-on-one it is difficult to stop him.
"They have two of the three but hopefully Luis can
show that we have the best of the three."
Uruguay will be without Coates' fellow defender Maxi
Pereira following his late red card in the Costa Rica match.
Culled from Soccerway
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