By Victor Kanayo
Chelsea star Raheem Sterling on Friday December 9 trained with his national teammates, as England face France in the quarter-final of the ongoing World Cup in Qatar.
Sterling rejoined training for the first time since he returned home after his family home was burgled as Gareth Southgate boasted a fully fit squad ahead of Saturday’s clash
Sterling, 28, returned to the UK on Sunday night after it emerged his house in Surrey had been burgled triggering security concerns for his family.
He took part in a group drill alongside captain Harry Kane, John Stones, Kyle Walker and Bukayo Saka as England assistant coach Steve Holland issued his instructions.
The 28-year-old also received a hug from former Wolves captain Conor Coady with his Three Lions teammates eager to welcome him back to camp with open arms.
He is likely to be on the bench, given the recent turmoil, against France in Saturday’s quarter-final.
On Thursday, Southgate expressed his backing for Sterling, saying: “He has felt the need to support his family and to be there for his family and that is a simple decision for me – I have to support the player.”
Shortly after it emerged that Sterling was to leave on Sunday evening, Sterling’s spokesperson said armed raiders had entered his property while his family were at home and that he was, understandably, keen to get back.
However, police later said that the theft, of jewellery and watches, had been discovered when the family returned from Qatar and added that they had received no reports of armed intruders.
Surrey Police said on Wednesday morning that they had arrested two men on suspicion of burglary following reports of suspicious activity in Oxshott and were working to establish whether those held were connected to the break-in at Sterling’s home, which is nearby.
The men were spotted acting suspiciously in a garden on Tuesday night with a helicopter and dog unit deployed.
A short time later, the force issued a further statement saying that they did not believe there to be a connection.
They are continuing to investigate the report of burglary at Sterling’s home and are yet to make any arrests.
