Brian Eastick: 'Rest benefits Raheem Sterling'

Brian Eastick has backed Brendan Rodgers's decision to rest Raheem Sterling in recent weeks.

The Liverpool teenager has not played for his club for over a month, but turned out for the England Under-21s on Thursday, taking a 3-0 win over Romania.

The Under-21s coach told ESPN: "He was very good. Brendan has obviously rested him a little bit recently. He hasn't played a great deal of football of late so getting a game under his belt with benefit him.

"He is a talented player and I think possibly that rest has helped. Brendan felt he had to take him out of the firing line a little bit at Liverpool.

"He is a very young player and people forget how young he is. You do need to rest players at the right time. Possibly it has done him a little bit of good and he enjoyed his game against Romania. His performance was very good."

The 18-year-old has made 35 appearances for the Reds this season.