Gareth Southgate backed Raheem Sterling to recover from his nightmare season – after leaving him out of his latest England squad. The Chelsea forward will miss the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia next month. Southgate spoke with Sterling last week with the 28-year-old battling a hamstring problem and admitting he had not hit top form. But, despite his omission, Southgate expects one of his star players to rediscover his spark. “I will always back him to respond strongly and have the resilience and tenacity to prove himself,” he said. “He said himself he’s not been happy with how it’s been but that will be a temporary thing. “He really wasn’t in consideration. We didn’t get to the point of whether he should be in or out. He doesn’t think he’s operating on the level he needs. “He’s an important part of our group and that remains the same. But he is in an area of the pitch where players are playing well for their clubs and playing well when they are playing for us. “The dynamic is different from maybe two-to-three years ago. We had four or five players who were almost guaranteed to be in the team. Now we’ve got competition pretty much everywhere. “But he has shown time and again for us that he has been an important player. His mental toughness stands out in why I would expect him to come up at a good level.” Sterling has struggled for form and fitness since a £47.5million move from Manchester City last summer. He has scored nine goals in 37 appearances in Chelsea’s chaotic season which has seen them sack Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter with Frank Lampard in interim charge since April. He has shown time and again for us that he has been an important player. His mental toughness stands out in why I would expect him to come up at a good level Gareth Southgate on Raheem Sterling They travel to Manchester United on Thursday and host Newcastle in Sunday’s final game of the season. Chelsea will finish in the bottom half of the Premier League despite owner Todd Boehly spending almost £600million. “I found him (Sterling) positive, strong and understanding with what’s gone on. It’s been difficult for everyone with all the changes this year. Three different managers, three different ways of training, three different ways of playing,” said Southgate. “There was a lot of upheaval. Clubs have these moments. There have been a couple of clubs who haven’t been where they want to be this year. “That will be even more intense next year. They won’t have any European football so will have a game a week. I think they’ll be really strong next season and certainly he’ll be a big part of it. “I can’t see a scenario where Chelsea aren’t in the top six next year. It has been really difficult for all the managers this year but that will calm down over the summer and they have an outstanding squad. They are going to have a good season and he’ll be fundamental to that.” Meanwhile, Southgate remains hopeful Jude Bellingham will be fit for the game in Malta on June 16 and against North Macedonia in Manchester on June 19. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder missed Sunday’s 3-0 victory at Augsburg with a knee problem he suffered in the 5-2 win over Borussia Monchengladbach and is a doubt for Saturday’s final game against Mainz. Dortmund are two points clear of Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga, hunting their first title since 2012. Southgate added: “He will be doing everything he can to be available for this weekend. Whether he will win that race we don’t know yet but I would have thought there is enough time for our games but we don’t know for sure.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Frank Lampard not surprised contract talks with Mason Mount are taking time Craig Overton stars as Somerset begin Blast by thrashing Hampshire Cameron Norrie starts Lyon Open title defence with win over David Goffin

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The screenshot captured an old comment, which read, 'MrBeast Now you have 175,000 subscribers'

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Devin Haney has announced he is relinquishing his undisputed lightweight titles, as he prepares for a super-lightweight fight with WBC champion Regis Prograis. Haney, 25, won the WBC lightweight title by outpointing Jorge Linares in 2021, before taking the remaining major belts from George Kambosos Jr in 2022. Haney beat the Australian via decision in Melbourne last June, before repeating the result four months later to retain the gold – also in Melbourne. The unbeaten American then retained the titles with a narrow decision over former champion Vasiliy Lomachenko in May, before setting his sights on a new division. Haney will box compatriot Prograis, 34, in San Francisco on 9 December, as he bids to become a two-weight world champion. But Haney will not enter San Francisco as a reigning champion, having told ESPN on Wednesday (29 November) that he is vacating his lightweight belts. “I did everything at 135[lbs] that I could,” he said. “The biggest fight for me was making that Gervonta Davis fight, and his side showed no interest in making the fight. “I’ve outgrown the division, so now I make my quest to 140 to become a two-division champion. And after this fight, I look to become a three-division champion and move up to 147, God willing that I’m successful in this fight. “I made history in becoming undisputed, and that was a milestone for me, but now I’m at the point in my career where I want to make the biggest and the best fights happening in the world. I’m a pay-per-view fighter.” Haney has a professional record of 30-0 (15 knockouts), while Prograis’s pro record stands at 29-1 (24 KOs). Prograis suffered the sole defeat of his pro career in 2019, when he lost a majority decision to Josh Taylor. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Conor Benn seemingly confirms Chris Eubank Jr fight date Benn vs Eubank Jr will not take place in Britain as board intervenes Mikaela Mayer pushes for three-minute rounds in Natasha Jonas clash

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Chinese President Xi Jinping met Friday for the second time this year

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