Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says that "nobody doubts how important" Raheem Sterling is to his first-team squad.
At a time when he has been linked with a transfer elsewhere, Sterling has worked himself back into Guardiola's starting lineup, with three of his 10 Premier League goals this season coming during the win at Norwich City on Saturday evening.
Speculation persists that the England international will eventually take on a new challenge away from the Etihad Stadium, but Guardiola has talked up the 27-year-old's status as a key player.
The City boss is quoted by the Manchester Evening News as saying: "Nobody doubts how important it is. He has shown it. What I want is for tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, he and all the players play well.
"If we count the amount of games he has played since we are together, it's a lot. He was a key player. In the future I don't know what's going to happen, because the club decides. The club all the time. When they extend the player contracts, I give my opinion but the club takes the decisions all the time."
Sterling's current deal is due to expire at the end of 2022-23.
Darren Plant
