You'll have plenty to celebrate when you subscribe to the Liverpool FC newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

KOP legend Robbie Fowler says Liverpool youngster Raheem Sterling should be praised rather than pilloried for asking to sit out England’s 1-0 win over Estonia.

The 19-year-old winger has come in for some criticism after Roy Hodgson revealed Sterling, who came off for the bench for the final 26 minutes, had complained of fatigue.

However, Fowler has hit back at Sterling’s detractors and insists it was “a selfless act” as he was simply putting the team first.

“I take my hat off to Raheem,” Fowler told the ECHO.

“I’m chuffed that he had the guts to speak up and say what we did as it showed maturity.

“It was a selfless act and people are wrong to have a go at him.

“What he did was for the benefit of the team. Not everyone puts the team first like that.

(Image: Action Images / Carl Recine)

“For a lot of players the priority is just getting caps and goals. Raheem was more concerned about three points and a win for England.

“As he didn’t feel 100%, he didn’t think he was able to go out there and play the way he wanted. England would have basically been playing with 10 men.

“It was very honest of him to say to the manager ‘I’m tired, I don’t think I can give you my best’. It doesn’t matter how old you are, if you feel tired you aren’t going to perform to your maximum.”

Fowler, who went on to score 183 goals for the Reds in 369 appearances after making his first-team debut at the age of 18, says he would have benefited during his playing career if had taken Sterling’s approach.

“I was different,” he said. “I always wanted to play. I always wanted to score goals.

“I played many times when I either had a knock or I was tired. In hindsight I wish I’d had the guts to maybe say I needed a breather at times so I would have been fresher for the next game.

“Look at Diego Costa and what he did in the Champions League final with Atletico Madrid last season. He wasn’t fit but started and ended up having to come off with a hamstring injury after nine minutes. It cost them.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not having a go at Costa because I would have done exactly the same as him. I’m just making the comparison.

“If a player isn’t quite right it’s best for everyone if he speaks up.

"Any team is much better off if all 11 players are fully fit and ready to perform.”

Sterling has played 3,014 minutes for club and country so far this year.

"The only outfield players in the England set-up to have seen more action in 2014 are Jordan Henderson, Leighton Baines and Gary Cahill.

Brendan Rodgers has vowed to handle him carefully to avoid the threat of burnout and Fowler says the youngster is in safe hands.

“Raheem is fortunate that he’s playing for a manager who knows all about him and will guide him well,” Fowler added.

“He didn’t play much in the first half of last season but then he came back better than ever. Since the turn of the year he’s been one of Liverpool’s standout performers.

“If anyone’s going to get the best out of Raheem, it’s Brendan. He’s a great man-manager. He will know when to use him and when to give him a break.”

More on this: Roy Hodgson has risked further inflaming relations between Liverpool and England by criticising Brendan Rodgers’ training methods

James Pearce comment: Liverpool FC are used to Hodgson putting his foot in his mouth