Roy Hodgson must regain Raheem Sterling's trust, claims Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers

BRENDAN RODGERS believes Roy Hodgson will have to regain the trust of Raheem Sterling as he insisted he would never betray the confidence of one of his own players.

01:30, Sat, Oct 18, 2014

Raheem Sterling playing for England Raheem Sterling was rested for England's game against Estonia but came on as a sub[GETTY]

The Liverpool manager described the torrent of criticism the teenager has endured this week as "grossly unfair" and confirmed once again Sterling had not asked to sit out England's Euro 2016 qualifier with Estonia.

Sterling, who will face former club QPR tomorrow, told England assistant coach Gary Neville he was feeling heavy legged before training on the eve of the trip to Tallinn, and national coach Hodgson took the decision to omit the youngster from his starting line-up.

Hodgson announced on TV prior to the qualifier Sterling had "complained of tiredness" - the player denies even using the word 'tired' - and repeated the claims post-match to leave the attacker exposed.

Rodgers believes the training-ground conversation should have remained private and that Hodgson will have to smooth over relations with Sterling at England's get-together for the game with Slovenia next month.

Brendan Rodgers previews QPR v Liverpool

Asked where the furore leaves Hodgson's relationship with Sterling, Rodgers said: "I'm sure when they meet up next they will speak on that and clear that up.

"My only focus is getting Raheem's confidence up and he is looking forward to the weekend.

"I have questioned one player in public in terms of improvement, Stewart Downing, but there was a reason for that and you will find after that he got into the team and played for six months.

"Other than that, every conversation you have with a player and another manager is private.

"That is the simplicity of it. That's how I work and I am sure Roy will probably look at this episode maybe going forward and analyse where he can be better on it. But it's not for me to get involved."

Hodgson and coach Ray Lewington are likely to be at Loftus Road tomorrow - Neville will be doing Sky commentary - as Sterling looks to refocus on football after a difficult week which has left him shaken.

"The priority was getting him back here in an environment that has seen him develop from the youth team and become an international player," said Rodgers.

"He did not say he didn't want to play because this is a kid who loves playing. The criticism has been grossly unfair. It shook him a bit but he has been brilliant in training. He is working extremely well."

Hodgson and Rodgers have swapped text messages in the last 48 hours as they attempt to draw a line under the rumpus and the Liverpool boss dismissed accusations he would discourage his players to play for their country.

"Over the years I've shown I'm not a barrier to England or any national team," he added. "I want what is best for the player.

"I know that players want to play for their country and if they can do a great job here at Liverpool and then go away and play for their country I will be proud.

"I was sat in a bar on my own watching England play in Estonia, so I want to see my players play. I want them to do well."