Raheem Sterling's canteen bust-up with Liverpool defender Joe Gomez could end up helping England, according to Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate.
The Manchester City attacker will start against Kosovo in the final Euro 2020 qualifier later, having been dropped from the side to face Montenegro for squaring up to Gomez last Monday, just 24 hours after the two had gone head-to-head at Anfield.
Southgate insists the row has had no bearing on relationships within his squad and that it might even have had the opposite effect.
“Raheem will play against Kosovo – and he’s looking forward to it,” Southgate said.
“What has been suggested [about the fallout of the Sterling-Gomez row] is so far removed from seeing the team socialise and train together, that it’s incredible.
“They are so tight. We’ve seen Raheem’s Twitter posts regarding Joe, and I have also had a long chat with Raheem.
“He’s looking forward to playing and, if anything, I think what has happened will only help to strengthen the bond between the players."
Sterling has 10 goals in his last 10 England appearances and Southgate has reiterated his importance to the side - hailing him as one of Europe's best players.
He added: "Raheem is 100 per cent an important player for us. He’s one of the best players in Europe.
“I’m delighted for him that we have qualified because he now knows that he’s going to get the chance to play in a European Championship, where he can be one of the star players.”
