Raheem Sterling admits that the vilification he regularly faces in the media has had an adverse affect.

Sterling has often been singled out and persecuted for poor performances in an England shirt.

He was the chosen scapegoat for a number of tabloids in the aftermath of England’s failed Euro 2016 campaign, despite a number of other players performing worse.

The Manchester City forward has dominated the headlines once more recently due to the tattoo of a gun on his leg in commemoration of his dead father.

He says media criticism is always playing in the back of his mind, and that he may simply opt not to leave his house as a result.

“I remember my first game at the Euros, I thought I did all right,” Sterling told The Times. “Got past my opponent a couple of times, got a couple of balls in and you just get caned. Now I am constantly thinking, ‘If I do this, something bad will come of it.’

“[I am thinking] if I go out tonight, something bad is going to happen. Anything that happens my mum is always on the phone. She is more the one who is stronger than me. She will tell me how to get through, not to pay attention, but there have been times when she is close to breaking.

“Until football is finished I will try and stay in as much as I can, watch TV and no one can say anything.”

As the video explains well (and doesn't try to point fingers too much), it's a vicious cycle. The inevitable response to being victimised is that you go into your shell, which then blunts your confidence as a player. Which only makes the criticism stronger. — Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) June 10, 2018

More from Planet Sport:

Quiz! Test your knowledge on the career of Boris Becker (Tennis365)

England didn’t play badly, Scotland just played better (Cricket365)

Five must-watch groups at the 2018 US Open (Golf365)