Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says his side will benefit from Raheem Sterling's trip to Jamaica.
The England international has been allowed a short mid-season break by Rodgers, and his boss feels that the Reds will profit from a recharged Sterling upon his return this week.
“For me it was the right thing to do for Raheem,” Rodgers told BBC Sport following his side’s 1-0 victory over Sunderland on Saturday. “He’s a very talented young player and we ask a lot of him.”
"He’s a very talented young player and we ask a lot of him"
Rodgers on Sterling
The Reds supremo continued: “He’s one of those little robust players who has played a lot of football since he has come into the team, not just this season but last season too – internationally there’s a big demand on him.”
Liverpool have hit a bit of form recently with yesterday’s result stretching their unbeaten run to seven. With the return of Sterling next week, Rodgers believes the break will have a big affect on his side and the player come the final run-in of the season.
“Of course, as a manager you could absolutely maximise everything out, but when you get to the last ten games of the season he might be running on empty,” he added.
“I just felt this period gives him a chance to go away and just recover - then next week come back and be feeling fresh and the feeling the benefit of a good rest.
“He’s been to a World Cup, and he’s had a dramatic couple of years where the attention has been on him, but he’s a wonderful kid who deals with it well and hopefully we will feel the benefit of that rest.”
