Sterling bags Player of the Month for December
Manchester City is running away with the Premier League with little surprise as Pep Guardiola’s outfit has pulled ahead to a 10-point lead over Chelsea on the back of an eleven-match-winning run, and much of their recent form can be attributed to England international Raheem Sterling.
? PLAYER OF THE MONTH ?@sterling7 has been voted the @premierleague Player of the Month for December! ?#ManCity pic.twitter.com/aBEl7HXWEE
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 14, 2022
Sterling has been scintillating form since coming back into prominence halfway through November, and his five goals and one assist in five Premier League outings during December were justly rewarded with winning the Player of the Month award for December ahead of the likes of Arsenal’s Martin Ødegaard.
The England winger directly contributed on the scoresheet for Guardiola’s City in all five of his appearances during the hectic month, which included a brace in the 6-3 shootout against Leicester City at the Etihad on Boxing Day. Goals against Newcastle, Wolves, and Watford rounded out the end of the year.
Redemption arc at Manchester City
It was not long ago that rumors were rife regarding Raheem Sterling leaving Manchester City to test himself abroad amid interest from Spanish giants Barcelona.
But while Sterling may very well indeed wish to play abroad at some point in what has been a stellar career in the Premier League, ESPN has said that the jury is still out regarding what his future holds for his next contract. That keeps the door open just enough should Sterling opt for an extension at City.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MARCH 02: Raheem Sterling of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Etihad Stadium on March 2, 2021 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
The sale of Spanish starlet Ferran Torres to Barcelona certainly goes a long way in providing a continuous pathway to minutes for Sterling at City for this season at the very least.
Of course, there is no telling what City will do in the summer especially after the club have been linked with a potential move for Erling Haaland, but for the time being, if 2021-22 is to be Raheem Sterling’s swansong at the Etihad Stadium, he is certainly on course for endearing himself to the blue half of Manchester for years to come.
