The FA have confirmed that Raheem Sterling is on his way back to Qatar after ensuring his family is safe back in England. And Gareth Southgate may already have confirmed the role the winger will take up against France this weekend.
The Chelsea star left the camp on the day of the game against Senegal after a number of items were reported stolen from his home in Surrey. Initial suggestions that armed robbers had threatened his family proved unfounded, but Sterling told friends he would not return to the World Cup until he had ensured his family were safe back home.
A brief statement ahead of the latest training session said: “Raheem Sterling will return to England’s World Cup base in Qatar. The Chelsea forward temporarily left to attend to a family matter but is now expected to rejoin the squad in Al Wakrah on Friday ahead of the quarter-final against France.”
Sterling will only make it back in time for the final session on Friday before the France game. But Southgate looks set to name an unchanged side to the one that beat Senegal 3-0 in the last 16.
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Mystery still continues to surround the exact nature of the break-in, with police still looking for witnesses to the crime that was reported on Saturday at 9pm. There is even the suggestion that the burglary occurred previously, while Sterling’s family were out of the country.
The latest statement from Surrey police said: “At this time it remains unclear on which date the property was stolen and establishing this forms a key part of our investigation. Enquiries into the full circumstances remain ongoing and officers will look at all available evidence including any CCTV opportunities.”
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