Since making his England debut as a fresh-faced 17-year-old way back in 2012, Raheem Sterling has established himself as one of finest players of his generation. He burst onto the scene at Liverpool before becoming a global star at Manchester City, and for a long time, he was the first name on Gareth Southgate's team sheet.
Sterling has contributed 20 goals and 27 assists to England's cause across 82 appearances to date, with 22 of those outings coming at major tournaments. He was particularly influential during his country's run to the Euro 2020 final, finding the net against Croatia, the Czech Republic and Germany - before playing the full 120 minutes of their final defeat to Italy.
Even after a frustrating start to life to Chelsea following his £47.5 million ($58m) transfer from the Etihad Stadium in July 2022, Sterling was still an automatic pick for the World Cup in Qatar. His club form had also been erratic in his final two years at City, but Southgate always defended his star forward and trusted him to perform on the international stage.
That has all changed in recent times, though, with Sterling yet to feature for England in 2023. Southgate left the Chelsea star out for the fourth squad in a row ahead of the upcoming fixtures against Australia and Italy, raising major question marks over his future.
Sterling has every right to feel betrayed. He has been one of the standout Premier League performers in the early months of the 2023-24 campaign and deserves to be back in the England picture.
The Three Lions are on the cusp of qualifying for next summer's European Championship, and will need a full-strength squad if they are to go all the way in Germany. It would be a travesty if Sterling does not make the plane, but it is a very real possibility right now, with Southgate's baffling selection calls threatening to derail England's latest bid for silverware...