Ferdinand backs Liverpool’s Sterling over his England omission

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Rio Ferdinand has taken to Twitter to back Raheem Sterling after the Liverpool youngster was left out of the side for England’s Euro 2016 qualifier in Estonia after telling manager Roy Hodgson he was tired.

Sterling has been criticised but QPR’s former Manchester United and England centre-back insisted the teenager did the right thing.

And Ferdinand believes the likes of his former United team-mate Wayne Rooney and Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard should have done the same during their careers.

Ferdinand tweeted: “Sterling – tired, fair play to him. English players are normally too proud to do that unlike our foreign friends. #FreshWhenItMattersMost

“For instance, Tevez would come in some days and sit on the massage bed while the team trained…”I’m tired”..match day – firing & energised.”

After some unsympathetic responses, he added: “Either some real dumb heads on here or they just missed the point totally. Doing what’s better for the team & yourself long term….

“With more rest at the right times throughout seasons Rooney would have gone into tournaments for England fresher 100%…. Too proud again

“Same could be said of Gerard, Lampard, JT, A.Cole myself etc-all too proud to sit out of training or a match with the bigger picture in mind

“Going by many of the responses on here – because players earn a fortune they cannot get tired leave off!!”

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