Former Manchester City star Peter Barnes has told City fans to back off with the discontent for Raheem Sterling, saying that the England international has plenty of time on his hands to improve.
There has been a small section of supporters that have started to become restless with the summer signing from Liverpool, despite Sterling having impressed in most of his games this term.
With four goals and two assists in the Premier League this season; Sterling has not exactly set the world alight. However, he is still just 20-years-old and still looks to be one of the most promising young players in the Premier League and world.
This is what Barnes has highlighted, saying that City fans need to be patient and give the mercurial winger more time to settle in at the club and find his feet among Manchester City’s star studded squad.
I like the lad. He’s a great buy for the club and you can’t question his ability. For him, it’s just about knowing when to cross the ball and knowing when to shoot. I know he’s working hard on that in extra training sessions. So, yes, give Raheem more time before any final verdict is reached. He will come good. He was the big star at Liverpool and has come to City where there are four or five other world-class match-winners. He’s still finding his feet but the final ball is just not good enough at the moment. I’m confident Raheem he will find that extra ten per cent and become the player we know he can be. He’s got a great career in front of him both at City and for his country
However, Barnes has given some advice to the youngster:
Raheem just needs to be more decisive in the top third where it matters if he wants to be a very good player. He needs to be more consistent. I feel he’s 90 per cent of what he can be so there’s still more to come from him. Raheem has great ability and he will be the finished article in the next 12 or 18 months. He has got to get the final product right, though. The final ball. But the lad’s only 20 and he has time on his side. I was always taught that you have to believe in constructive criticism and it’s no good having all the skill in the world with no end product. Raheem just needs to make his mind up quicker about what he does in that top third of the pitch.
