Former Liverpool and Spurs midfielder Jamie Redknapp says he has been impressed with Liverpool starlet Raheem Sterling, and says he expects him to overtake Arsenal’s wingers in the England pecking order within a year.

Walcott has been involved with the England set-up since the age of 16, controversially joining up with their squad to the 2006 World Cup after half a season with Arsenal – where he did not make a single appearance.

However, the former Southampton man has grown in stature since then, and is a regular feature for England on the right flank. He is joined by his Gunners team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, another graduate from the Saints academy, and who has impressed for club and country at only 19 years of age.

Redknap, though, seems to rate Sterling higher, saying in his Daily Mail column:

“Raheem Sterling of Liverpool was impressive [against Sweden]. I can see him overtaking Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott within a year.

He has quick feet, tiny steps and explosive pace. But he is intelligent and strong and demands the ball. He will only get better.”

A pretty bold prediction from the Sky pundit. I certainly think Sterling benefits from more first-team opportunities at Liverpool. There is more competition at Arsenal, which is bad news for both Theo and the Ox. Personally I rate Chamberlain as the most gifted of the three, but it’s possible that his future lies in a more central midfield role anyway, so the two can certainly co-exist. Walcott, as well, could be moved upfront in the near future, so England’s future looks pretty interesting with these three young talents around.

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