One step ahead: Sterling, left, has caught the eye of Hodgson in training and could force his way into the England team

In the sweltering heat of Miami Shores yesterday, one England player came nicely to the boil. Raheem Sterling’s performance on the training pitch at Barry University was described as “breathtaking” and “unstoppable” by Roy Hodgson, which makes it all the more regrettable that the Liverpool winger will miss England’s final World Cup warm-up match today through suspension.

The meeting with Honduras at the Sun Life Stadium represents England’s final rehearsal before their World Cup campaign begins with the demanding assignment against Italy in Manaus in a week’s time. In an ideal world, Sterling would have a belated chance to push his claims for a starting place next Saturday, demonstrating the pace and the verve that left his manager and his team-mates enthralled yesterday, but his