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Sterling won't walk away from England

ESPN staff
December 26, 2012
Raheem Sterling made his England debut against Sweden © PA Photos
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Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling has ruled out a switch of allegiance to Jamaica, declaring his international future lies with England.

Sterling, 18, holds dual nationality after being born in Kingston to Jamaican parents. However, he has represented England at every level from under-16 onwards and won his first senior cap for Roy Hodgson's side in last month's 4-2 defeat in Sweden.

He remains eligible to play for the country of his birth as the Stockholm fixture was only a friendly, but has no plans to abandon England.

He told The Times: "It was a dream come true (to play against Sweden). As a 15-year-old I can remember sitting at home and praying to get an under-16 call-up, so to be getting a senior call-up a few years later was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

"I want to keep driving on and do a bit more. Obviously I've got Jamaican roots but no-one tried to put any pressure on me, which was the good thing. But I couldn't turn my back on England because I've grown up through the English youth system and progressed from there.

"I couldn't just switch over. So it was a good thing for me to be called up and make my debut. It's 100 per cent going to be England from now on.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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