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BRENDAN RODGERS has told Raheem Sterling to forget about a new improved contract and focus on maintaining his impressive form ahead of Liverpool FC’s clash with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light tonight.

The teenager has enjoyed a meteoric rise so far this term having broken into the Reds’ line up and earned a surprise call-up to the senior England squad.

Rodgers has been delighted by his progress but is determined to ensure that Sterling, who penned his first professional deal following his 17th birthday last December, isn’t handed too much too soon.

“After I spoke to Roy Hodgson and I had got through to Raheem to tell him about being called up by England, my next call was to his agent.

“I wanted to make sure that when it came out, he wasn’t jumping in the car up to Liverpool to have a chat with me. I want to manage the expectation of the kid.

“The last thing we need is Sky Sports coming up with the yellow bar saying he has signed a five year contract after two games. There is no doubt it is something that we will look at in the next few months. But I have seen it so much with young players.

“You see these young boys play one or two games, they get handed these super-duper contracts and then he goes down to there. When they reach 22 or 23, you hear people ask ‘what has happened to so and so?’ The biggest thing that distorts the reality of people and footballers is money. You have to protect young players and help them.

“I worked with players at Swansea who had spent their lives in football and not earned more than two grand a week. Now you are seeing these young players who are multi-millionaires. No matter what you say, it takes the edge off them.

* GET latest updates and stats from Sunderland v Liverpool as it happens in our live match centre here and keep in touch with all the latest LFC news, views and features by following @LivEchoLFC on Twitter and LiverpoolEchoLFC on Facebook

“The point I have made to Raheem is that he will earn it. What I have done in his career is insignificant. I’ve given him a chance. What I want to see is if he can become consistent with it. If you can be consistent with the chance you get, you will get rewarded for it.”

Rodgers, who is full of praise for Sterling’s attitude and application, intends to carefully guide his blossoming career but says others close to the youngster also have a duty to keep his best interests at heart.

“One area that I specialise in is young players and the one thing I would say about Raheem is that he is a great learner,” he added.

“Over the course of pre-season, I wasn’t harsh with him but he had to learn. I look at him now, a couple of months later, and he plays with responsibility. You try to improve young players technically but tactically as well.

“You could see Raheem against Manchester City when they played 3-5-2. The idea of a young player going into make his (full league) debut in a game like that is phenomenal.

“One of the biggest things that has come out is his ability to learn. If he continues along that vein, he will have a terrific career. But the support mechanism around him have to make sure he is centric to everything. The people around him have to understand that. I can try and educate him but I can’t control everything.”

With Rodgers having ruled out the possibility of boosting his squad by signing a free agent, he is ready to put his faith in more of the club’s youngsters over the coming weeks. And he believes Sterling’s breakthrough into the senior ranks has inspired others.

“I have seen it with a number of players already,” said Rodgers.

“The biggest thing you need in your life, whatever profession you are in, is hope. I think Raheem has given all the young players that. I have seen a marked difference in the enthusiasm and desire of the young players.”

* GET latest updates and stats from Sunderland v Liverpool as it happens in our live match centre here and keep in touch with all the latest LFC news, views and features by following @LivEchoLFC on Twitter and LiverpoolEchoLFC on Facebook