Kevin Kilbane believes that Raheem Sterling is the type of player that is seen as key by other footballers, but can be underrated by fans.
Kev was on OTB AM with Eoin Sheahan this morning, discussing criticism of Sterling by small sections of England support. Sterling was less than clinical in front of goal against Sweden, but Kevin believes that his skill is appreciated more by teammates than by those watching the game.
"His final ball is the one that lets him down. His finishing lets him down. I heard him described this weekend as "a player's player".
"[Footballers] can tell you about a player's player. When you know someone that's doing a job but they are not always pleasing on the eye. They may make mistakes at key moments in games. In general, that is exactly what I think Sterling is."
"Sterling gets England up the pitch, he pulls off defenders into key areas where he's going to get on the ball on his half-turn, then he is going to be able to run at defenders. He commits defenders.
"But his final ball has been seriously lacking. You can't get away from that fact. Even at the weekend, with the positions that he was getting into, he could have got a couple of goals. But if he continues to make the runs that he's making, against players like Corluka, Vida and Lovren - you know he can hurt them with his pace.
"That is what he is going to bring to it, and that is why he's a key weapon for England."
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