Liverpool youngster Raheem Sterling has declared that he plans to prove himself to Reds boss Brendan Rodgers all over again this season.
Sterling broke into the Liverpool first team under Rodgers last season, making 36 appearances in a campaign which also saw him make his senior England debut.
The 18-year-old, whose campaign was curtailed by injury, insists that he must now fight hard to show Rodgers that he has the commitment required to regain his first-team place.
He told the Daily Mail: "There's still a lot of work to be done which I thought I should've done last season only for my injury. I'm just looking forward to working hard in training and in games to try and show the manager what I can do to try and cement a place.
"Last season was a good start. The manager gave me the chance to go out on the pitch and show what I can do but then my injury started kicking in and my performances weren't the best. It was obviously taking a toll on me so the manager took me out to protect me.
"It was also to get me ready for the new season. I'm not really thinking about (raised expectations). As young lad I just have to go out there and play my game. People are going to be expecting things from me now but I'm not going to put pressure on myself."
Sterling was on target for the Reds in their opening pre-season friendly last weekend, scoring in a 4-0 win over Preston North End at Deepdale.
Liam Power
