England coach Roy Hodgson was delighted with the debut of Liverpool teen Raheem Sterling in defeat to Sweden.

He recovered from a tough baptism to produce a courageous display that suggests he has a bright future at this level.

"Raheem has to be very happy," said Hodgson. "He had a difficult start. The first challenge on him was a very fierce one. It put him on the ground and winded him.

"But he came through that and got better and better. Towards the end he tired a little as one would expect but I have to be satisfied with what he did.

"He is not even 18, so it bodes well.

"He is a young man with a future. He is a young man with talent. Now he has to hone that talent in the Premier League with Liverpool."