QPR duo hail pal’s England call-up

Raheem Sterling, then a QPR player, in action for England Under-16s. Photo credit: Lynne Cameron/PA wire

Monday, September 10, 2012
2:52 PM

Queens Park Rangers players have taken to Twitter to congratulate former R’s academy star Raheem Sterling on his call-up to the full England squad.

It was announced today that the winger has been drafted into the Three Lions senior side ahead of tomorrow night’s World Cup qualifier against Ukraine at Wembley.

He joins Tottenham’s Jake Livermore and Southampton’s Adam Lallana as late additions following the withdrawal of Arsenal’s Theo Walcott due to a virus.

Sterling joined the Loftus Road outfit aged 10 but signed for Liverpool two years ago in a deal that could eventually earn the Hoops around £5 million.

Current QPR midfielder Hogan Ephraim praised Lallana on his Twitter account before adding: ‘Also buzzing for Raheem Sterling...great young player and thoroughly deserves the chance to train and play alongside those top players!’

Rangers defender Max Ehmer, who recently signed a new four-year deal with the club, also tweeted: ‘Big news for @sterling31 getting called up to England...well done’

England coach Roy Hodgson said: “It was a good opportunity to invite some young players to come in and be part of the atmosphere.

“We still have enough good players to be able to deal with the game, but it’s always good when you have the chance to invite these players to come in and see how things are.”