Raheem Sterling needs a thicker skin after being booed in Ireland, says Roy Hodgson
Monday 8 June 2015 08:34, UK
Roy Hodgson thinks Raheem Sterling needs to develop a "thicker skin" after the young winger was booed throughout England's friendly against the Republic of Ireland.
The Liverpool contract rebel's cause was not helped as he put in a below-par performance in the goalless draw at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Sunday, much to the delight of the home fans.
However, his international manager was quick to back the 20-year-old and praised the way he has attempted to shrug off any criticism.
"I think he's going through a bad time publicly," Hodgson said. "You can't expect people just to shrug off the criticism he has been receiving.
"He does ever so well and tries well to shrug it off, let his football do the talking. He needed this game to realise that, if he is going to get it out of his system, he's going to have work harder still and get a thicker skin than he has at the moment."
Despite Sterling's dip in form during the final months of the season and the criticism he has received, Hodgson insisted that he trusts Sterling to give his all and perform for England.
"I have no reservations (about Sterling). I trust him," Hodgson said. "But players are not robots. He's done some fantastic things for us, but today he didn't hit those heights.
"It'll take a lot before I and the English national team sway from Raheem Sterling.
"We only took him off today was to give others the game, to air the squad."
