Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has said that teenage winger Raheem Sterling's slump in form is "to be expected", and has also added that he will not try and rush the youngsters progress.
Sterling has enjoyed in extremely fruitful career at Anfield so far since making his senior debut in March of last year, having already played 35 games this campaign.His amazing performance has also seen the 18 year-old get a call up to the England senior team earning his first full cap in a friendly verses Sweden in November.
Rodgers however, has not included the forward in his starting lineup for the past six weeks as the youngster develops out of the limelight. The Liverpool manager is not worried about Sterling's recent slump of form though saying that it is simply the pace of his first season in the Premier League catching up with him.
He said: "This is a kid we're talking about so we have to take a wee step back".
"It is so mentally and physically draining this league. It hurts experienced professionals and this boy has just stepped up from the Academy and played first-team football and earned a contract off that. We have to nurture that and at times he's got to have that mentality to keep learning".
"I was talking to him the other day about this, and if he didn't kick another ball this season he's had a good one. It's a very physically demanding league and what you're seeing now is more tiredness of the legs when before he could go up to people and take them on. That zip has gone and that's down to fatigue. Was that to be expected? Yes it was".
"He will have experienced that before but not in the limelight like it is now. He's made such an impact that everyone is looking at him now. But the job is to nurture him".
"He's started his career at first-team level way before many get the opportunity. He's still got lots of improvement to make in his game. Over the years we will look at his plan and development and act accordingly."
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