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Raheem Sterling has shown great improvement after stepping up this season, and that’s according to former Aston Villa and Charlton striker, Darren Bent.

Sterling joined Chelsea from Manchester City last summer, but didn’t quite show the same form that saw the Blues pay £50m for him for reasons that are not clear.

The 28-year-old has however had a far-better start to the 2023-24 campaign, and currently has five goals and two assists from his first 14 matches for Chelsea across all competitions, including one strike from the 4-4 draw against Manchester City on Sunday.

And Bent has now admitted that he’s pleased with how Sterling has performed this season, while stating his bemusement at how the Chelsea forward has not been included in the last five England squads.

Bent told talkSPORT: “Sterling, how’s he not in the England squad? I don’t get it. He’s stepped up.

“It almost feels like, and I hate it, Gareth is trying to phase him out. His form is a good as anyone in that wide left position.”