Roy Hodgson is ready to wrap Raheem Sterling in cotton wool

Roy Hodgson will offer Raheem Sterling a sanctuary from the storm when the pair meet up at St George’s Park in 10 days’ time.

There will be no talk of contracts, agents or his club situation when the 20-year-old comes under the England manager’s wing ahead of the friendly international against the Republic of Ireland and the Euro 2016 qualifier in Slovenia.

Hodgson has watched from the sidelines as Sterling has been engulfed in a firestorm of controversy over his Liverpool future over the past week.

He was heckled at the club’s awards night, his agent suggested he wouldn’t sign a new deal and Liverpool pulled out of a scheduled meeting to discuss his contract.

Some might say that the player has engineered his own discomfort. But that won’t stop his international manager from putting a protective arm around him.

“I certainly won’t be poking my nose into Raheem’s business,” says Hodgson.

“I won’t be alluding to it because, quite frankly, I want him to be thinking about England, not Liverpool and contracts.

“When we meet up, I will make it clear that I’m really pleased to be working with him again.

“I’ll also tell him that if he thinks something I can say could be of benefit to him, then I’m available.

“I’m in a lucky situation. I don’t have to deal with contracts and players’ agents. I just deal with players.

“Let’s be fair. How many players with lots of caps for England have not found themselves in the headlines every now and again?

“We would be wise, as club and international managers, to make players aware as often as we can that the very nice period where you burst on the scene and people say only nice things about you is short-lived.

“That they shouldn’t be surprised that, when everyone has accepted their star status, things turn and they will find themselves in quite a lot of difficult situations.

“I don’t want to pontificate. But when players show some talent breaking on to the scene, there’s an awful lot of laxity in the criticism which comes their way.

“People at first only see the potential, the obvious talent the player has. They turn a blind eye to other things.

“That doesn’t last long. Very quickly a player goes from being embryonic to being a fantastic star, like Sterling.

“Then people judge every single thing you do.

“I think that this year, Raheem has ridden several situations when he’s been in the headlines for other than football reasons very, very well.

“Even when Liverpool haven’t been at their best, I still think his contribution has been a good one.

“I’m rather hoping that this season will make him even stronger.

“He will lose none of his football qualities, but maybe mentally he’ll be a little more prepared for what being a star player means.

“I think Raheem can be quite pleased with his development as a player.

“He’s not a typical winger, where he is happiest when he’s close to the touchline. He can play in several positions.

“He is strong and can play with his back to goal. He’s equally effective when he comes infield as he is when he plays out on the wing.

“I’m a great admirer of Eden Hazard. He has been fantastic and watching him play has been a joy.

“I don’t want to be quoted as saying Raheem can be Hazard.

“But there’s no reason why he can’t look three, four years ahead and hope to be at that level.”