“I won’t pick his calls again after what he did”- Chelsea Star Raheem has revealed how Gareth Southgate and other England internationals teased and irritated him until he left the England World Cup camp in tears in 2022 and Why Gareth Southgate dropped him ever Since

Gareth Southgate has conceded Raheem Sterling faces a “fight on his hands” to save his England career.

The Chelsea attacker has 82 caps for England since making his senior debut in 2012, with 18 of his 20 international goals coming during Southgate’s reign. However, on Thursday, he was left out of England’s sixth consecutive team.

Jarrod Bowen, Cole Palmer, and Anthony Gordon have all surpassed him in the England pecking order in recent months, with Sterling’s last appearance for England coming in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final defeat to France in Qatar.

Sterling has appeared in all but three of Chelsea’s Premier League games this season, but his playing time has decreased as the season progressed.

When asked if Sterling’s future with England is still open, Southgate responded, “Well, it’s not shut.”

“We have to clarify that Cole is currently starting every game for Chelsea, and they are departing on. With Anthony Gordon’s form and Bowen’s goals, he has a tough challenge. We know what Bukayo [Saka] and Phil [Foden] have accomplished over the years.

“As I’ve mentioned in previous selections, it’s the part of the pitch where we have the most competition for places. We will never close the door because we know he can perform in our setting in the games that are most important. But, right now, we see him behind those guys.”

Sterling, who turns 30 this year, has captained England on occasion under Southgate and has shown frustration in private when he has been left out of recent selections.

Southgate said of Sterling: “I know we’ve always tried to balance who can do the job for us, loyalty, but I also believe we’ve given opportunities to form over time, and we’re doing that again with Gordon.