Former Chelsea defender, Mario Melchiot has told Raheem Sterling to start acting like a leader at the club given his age and experience.

At 29 years old, Sterling is one of the oldest players in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad at the moment, after Thiago Silva and Marcus Bettinelli.

The winger was dropped for Chelsea’s 3-1 FA Cup win against Aston Villa in midweek, even though he later came on for Noni Madueke in the second half.

Sterling this season, has scored seven goals for Chelsea after making 29 appearances, but Melchiot has now stated that he certainly feels the ex-Manchester City star should be doing more to help his new club.

The Dutchman told The Football News Show: “I will point a finger at Sterling for example, 29 years old, that means that you’re in the category of carrying the team when they’re in difficulties. Is he a player like that? I’m not so sure about it.

“When you look at Chelsea now, when you asked me about seeing the leaders, I think everybody on the field in any football team is a leader, because not only leaders have an armband.”

Sterling joined Chelsea from City two summers ago after the Blues parted with a reported £50m. He has done well at times by scoring a few goals, but like Melchiot said, beyond that, it would be nice to actually see the England international urging his teammates on and being a leader on and off the pitch more, given that he’s playing with people that have very little experience about the league when compared to him.