That’s the verdict of boss Brendan Rodgers, who is ready to send the exciting teenage winger back to the age-group teams in a bid to get him firing on all cylinders again.
The Liverpool manager is even prepared to allow his young star to head for the Under-21 European Championship this summer, despite fears of burn out for a player who has already made his full England debut.
Many felt that the Merseyside club would baulk at allowing the 18-year-old to go the tournament to be held in Israel this summer, given the demands on him in his short career so far.
But Rodgers revealed that he has been protecting Sterling by taking him away from the intensity of first team football.
That is why he is happy for the winger to play for the U21s... and even Liverpool’s youth team.
Speaking this week, the Reds' boss explained: “I spoke to Stuart Pearce because we have a number of England U21 boys here, and I don’t think it would do Raheem any harm to go.
“He’s had a good season here up to now and going to a tournament like that if he was selected will be good for his experience.”
Rodgers has harboured genuine fears of burn-out for the flying winger after Sterling played more than 30 games in the first half of the season.
Michael Regan
Since then, the manager has throttled back, and even sent the teenager away to Dubai for a holiday a fortnight ago.
With the arrival of Philippe Coutinho from Inter Milan in January, it means Sterling’s development can be more carefully managed.
And the Anfield manager explained that could even result in the player being offered a Youth Cup run out in the semi-final against Chelsea next month.
“Micah Richards played in the Youth Cup when he was in the Manchester City side in the semi-finals, so we will see. We have to give credit to the young kids for getting there first.”
One thing that will NOT be happening is a loan spell for the player rated by England boss Roy Hodgson and his assistant Gary Neville as an international-level star in the making, with Rodgers insisting:
“I’ve had a number of calls from teams looking to take him on loan, but our squad is thin enough as it is, and he won’t be doing that.
“We just have to ensure as a club we don’t make any mistakes with his development. It is about nurturing the young players and making sure they don’t have too many miles on the clock too early.
“This is a kid who he has just turned 18 and done brilliantly for the first team, and I don’t know a player within that age who is playing regularly at this level.”
While Sterling, along with Jonjo Shelvey, Suso and Andre Wisdom will all be treated carefully as Rodgers looks to maintain their development - “they’ve all passed the test, now we must look after them” - he has no such fears about Coutinho.
Andrew Powell
The Brazilian has been a revelation since arriving in the January window, and despite being just 20 years old, the full international believes he English football is the perfect stage for his talents.
“As soon as I arrived here, not just the manager but everybody at the club has been very nice and it’s helped relaxed me,” he explained.
“It is a great club and like a big family - that is very important for a young player that has just arrived. It leaves me at ease to do the thing I love most which is to play football.
“And Anfield is a great stadium, it is very moving to see the stadium full and everybody singing - it is very different from Brazil and Italy.
"In every match the fans are there, the stadium is full and the fans shouting. In Brazil, it is not like this and in Italy even less so.”
