Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling is confident that his short break away from football earlier this month will keep him refreshed in the second half of the campaign.
The England international, who last year complained of being too fatigued to play for his national side, was controversially granted time to travel to Jamaica by Brendan Rodgers in order to recharge his batteries following a gruelling past 12 months.
Sterling was back among the goals in the Reds' 1-1 draw against Chelsea in midweek, scoring an individual strike to help justify his manager's decision.
"I knew I would get loads of stick for being given the break, but the manager did say at the start of the season that this is what he would do," he is quoted as saying by ESPN. "It was planned to have a break at some point. I have played a lot of minutes for someone my age, but I am not complaining.
"I think it will help me. I am back now, refreshed and ready to go again. I am just focused on trying to help the team as much as possible. It is always good to get a few days off.
"Mentally you feel it. I got a lot of stick about the tired stuff with England so it all came down on me. But it was the manager who makes the decisions. If he says, 'Take a week off', who am I to say no? I am back, ready and focused."
Sterling has made 36 appearances for club and country so far this season.
Daniel Lewis
