Sterling: I'll prove I deserve a place
Raheem Sterling is refusing to rest on his laurels after returning to pre-season in fine form – instead, the youngster insists he still has plenty to prove if he is to secure first-team football next season.
Sterling has been one of Liverpool's stand-out performers during their summer tour of Indonesia, Australia and Thailand so far.
In Jakarta, he tapped home the Reds' second as an Indonesia XI were beaten 2-0, before turning in another sparkling display against Melbourne Victory at the MCG on Wednesday.
Asked if he now sees himself as an established member of Brendan Rodgers' senior squad, the youngster replied: "No, not at all. I'm just another young player working every day to try and make a mark on this season and get some minutes on the pitch.
"I'm fully focused on trying to prove I deserve a place in the team and the squad.
"I've set myself a few targets, which I'm looking forward to trying to hopefully meet this season."
An extended run in the Reds' first team throughout the first half of the 2012-13 campaign saw Sterling rewarded with an England debut against Serbia on October 16.
And with the 2014 FIFA World Cup looming on the horizon, the winger admits he has harboured aspirations of travelling to Brazil and representing his country in the tournament.
But he insists he'll be focusing on his Liverpool duties first and foremost.
"I'll play for Liverpool and just see how it goes," he said. "As a young player, everyone has a dream - hopefully I can make mine a reality."
Sterling got his first taste of the Reds' worldwide fanbase when he travelled to North America as part of last year's pre-season preparations.
However, even the likes of Steven Gerrard have admitted to being bowled over by the sheer scale of the support the squad has received during their tour of Indonesia, Australia and Thailand so far.
So imagine then, how Sterling, at 18 years of age, has responded to the scenes which have greeted the team in Jakarta, Melbourne and Bangkok over the past 10 days.
"Seeing fans with your name on and things like that is a massive inspiration for me to go out there and show what I can do," he said.
"We've been to Australia and Indonesia and had the same type of welcome there - and yesterday in Thailand was just as impressive. It was a really warm welcome.
"Back in England, we get the same thing, but it's great to see we've got similar support out in other countries as far away as here. It's great to be part of a big club like this."
The humidity of Indonesia provided a stern test for the Liverpool players, who endured double training sessions under the searing Jakarta sun throughout the first leg of their tour.
Australia proved less humid; however, after flying into Bangkok on Thursday afternoon, Sterling knows the heat is on again.
"It was a bit cold in Australia, but now the humidity and the heat is back," he explained. "The training sessions won't be too easy, but I'm looking forward to it.
"It does have an impact on training - even in the warm up and the jog around the pitch, all of the boys were sweating."
"It's been good so far. In the two games, I think the team have done really well. I'm enjoying every minute of it and learning as much as I can to try and show the manager I can be a big part of the team."