Sterling has played in every game for club and country this season.
Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has claimed that Raheem Sterling never refused to play for England, Goal.com reports.
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The attacker has been the subject of huge controversey over the past week after England manager Roy Hodgson claimed that the youngster had told him that he was too tired to start last Monday’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Estonia.
While several pundits and players have had their say on the furoe, Johnson has decided to back up his teammate, saying the 19-year-old would never turn down an opportunity to represent his country.
“I think club and country should support him,” Johnson told reporters. “With Raheem, he is still growing and playing in the best league in the world every week. He is going to have a demand on his body.
“He wasn’t tired as has been published. He was asked, ‘How do you feel?’ and he’s said his thighs were tired. There’s a difference between aching and actually saying: ‘I’m tired and I can’t play’.?”
When asked if Sterling is suffering from burnout, Johnson continued: “That’s the way it has been presented, but anyone with half a brain would know that’s not the case. He’d play every week, if he could.”
Johnson doesn’t believe that Roy Hodgson is to blame for the fall-out but questioned the decision to publicise the matter.
“In hindsight you could probably handle most situations better,” he added. “But I am sure they didn’t mean to cause the reaction it caused. Unfortunately people jumped on and ran a few headlines.”
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