Former Manchester City winger Trevor Sinclair says Raheem Sterling deserves to be cut some slack.

Sinclair wrote for the Daily Mail: "He's 22. He makes mistakes. He plays in a position where a young player can suffer from inconsistency. He's still learning.

"Does he get a break? No. He plays poorly for England in Malta and is hooked at half-time, but there is a lack of understanding and support. So few people standing in his corner.

"He left a big club with a vocal and passionate support when he departed Liverpool. Yes, it was a bit messy and could have been handled better. It was a big fee at the time, although perhaps £49million for a player with his electrifying pace might not seem such a big deal after this last transfer window. But it seems the criticism has spiralled from there."