Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has questioned Roy Hodgson's decision to publicly declare that Raheem Sterling asked to be rested against Estonia.
England boss Hodgson claimed that the 19-year-old was suffering from fatigue ahead of the Three Lions' 1-0 win on Sunday evening.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Carragher thinks that Hodgson's words were ill-advised, and stated that the conversation between the pair should have stayed private.
"I just think Roy Hodgson could have been a bit more careful before and after the game and we wouldn't be having this debate," said Carragher. "Just come out and say 'I played Adam Lallana [ahead of Sterling] because he did well in the last game'. Rather than now, there's going to be a debate over it all.
"We can debate whether Raheem Sterling should have said that to a manager, but me as a player, I'd never give a manager an opportunity to leave me out. I just wonder whether Raheem is tired, or what he's feeling, but keep that between yourselves.
"You've got to be careful of burnout for Raheem Sterling, a lot of it comes from too much football, so it's not the worst thing in the world [to ask for a break]. Maybe he's clever in doing that in looking after himself."
Sterling has started all but one of Liverpool's games this season, and played 120 minutes for the Reds as they beat Middlesbrough in the League Cup last month.
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