Raheem Sterling puts fate in England psychiatrist as he hopes to shine in France

Raheem Sterling has turned to psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters to help bolster his Euro 2016 chances for the three Lions.

England international Sterling admits he was struggling for form and confidence at the end of the season after losing his place at Manchester City under their then-boss Manuel Pellegrini.

The most expensive English player in history – costing Manchester City £49 million when he signed from Liverpool last summer – said he welcomed the presence of Peters in the England camp after also working with him when he was at Anfield.

That has helped Sterling build up his confidence before the Euros and he has also spoken with Peters – a member of Roy Hodgson’s backroom staff – since joining up with the Three Lions squad at the end of the campaign.

“Really, it has been about me getting in a positive mind-set with the staff here, Dr Steve Peters, and getting my mentality stronger,” Sterling revealed having lost his starting place at City to Jesús Navas and then with doubts – which he erased – as to whether he would be fit for the European Championship.

“He has definitely helped me,” Sterling added. “I have been seeing him here with the national team. Most of the boys do. He just gets it into your head that mentality is key and a strong part of it is blocking certain things out and focusing singularly on your football.

“I have been working on that. He was with us at Liverpool and since I moved to City I didn’t have a chance to work with him. So since I joined up with England I have started speaking to him, it is a real bonus for me.”

When he was at Liverpool Sterling paid tribute to the work that Peters – who has been used by England manager Roy Hodgson periodically just before the last World Cup in Brazil.

Peters, a renowned sports psychiatrist who worked with the Team GB’s cycling team at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and wrote The Chimp Paradox which explains how the human mind operates, helped to rebuild England’s confidence after the Brazil World Cup and is highly regarded by Hodgson.