Raheem Sterling has been the subject of many arguments in recent times after stirring up controversy by getting a gun tattooed on his leg ahead of this summer's World Cup. The 23-year-old forward's week headed further south after news emerged that he was late to arrive for England's training camp having messed up his flight schedule.
Contrary to popular opinion of being dropped from the squad, Gareth Southgate named Raheem Sterling in his starting XI against Nigeria and his faith was adequatly repaid back by the former Liverpool man. The man in question, however, asserted that he would have totally understood had his manager resorted to sanctioning him by leaving him out of his plans.
Speaking to ITV after England’s win, he said: "He's honest [Southgate], he tells you his exact mind.
"If I got left out I wouldn't have any complaints because I had to meet up at 11 o'clock, my flight got delayed and I was a bit late in the morning, so I completely understand where he's coming from and I have to go out there and show him what I'm capable of doing.
"It was amazing to get on the pitch, that's all we work for is to be on the pitch week in, week out, and it was just really nice to get on the pitch and get the win.
"I should have scored, there was one stuck under my feet and one where the ball was a bit more in front of me and I had to check back, but that's how it goes.
"The most important thing is we won the game, we started strong and now to build on to the next game."
England's goals in their victory at Wembley were scored by Gary Cahil and Harry Kane whereas Arsenal's Alex Iwobi got the consolation for the Nigerians.
