Raheem Sterling hailed as inspiring role model by Danny Murphy after Football Writers Player of the Year award win
Danny Murphy has praised Raheem Sterling for his positive impact off the pitch after the Manchester City star was named Football Writers Player of the Year.Sterling won the prestigious award ahead of PFA Player of the Year Virgil van Dijk – and received a staggering 62 per cent of the vote.While the England forward has enjoyed a wonderful season, leading Man Citys title charge with 17 goals and ten assists, Sterling has also become the leading voice in English footballs fight against racism.And Murphy believes the 24-year-old, who was also given the Integrity and Impact Award at the BT Sport Industry Awards, has blossomed into a figure of inspiration for young people.Sterling with the Integrity and Impact Award at the BT Sport Industry Awards1
Sterling with the Integrity and Impact Award at the BT Sport Industry Awards
The talkSPORT pundit said: If you look at what hes done in terms of raising awareness for the DKMS stem cell donors, the young lad at Palace [Damary Dawkins] when he paid for the funeral, supported the family, created awareness hugely for something thats close to my heart as well.Its things like that where hes proactively making an impact on people and actually using his presence and influence.Sterlings made mistakes, who hasnt? You can still progress through adversity and sometimes thats more inspirational than doing everything right all the time. The young lads out there looking up at superstars are going through trouble, making mistakes and taking wrong turns.You can see someone in the limelight and say, Look, hes been through that. Hes taken that much stick, hes made that mistake and look where he is now.On the pitch, Sterling has overcome doubts about his finishing ability to become one of the Premier Leagues most prolific goalscorers.

LIVE ON talkSPORT

talkSPORT is your home of live football! Here's what's coming up on talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2...
  • Millwall vs Bristol City (Tuesday, 7:45pm) – talkSPORT 2
  • Swansea vs Derby (Wednesday, 7:45pm) – talkSPORT 2
  • Barcelona vs Liverpool (Wednesday, 8pm) – talkSPORT
  • Eintracht Frankfurt vs Chelsea (Thursday, 8pm) – talkSPORT 2
  • West Ham vs Southampton (Saturday, 3pm) – talkSPORT 2
  • Cardiff vs Crystal Palace (Saturday 5:30pm) – talkSPORT
And Murphy believes Sterlings improvement is a testament to his determination to get better.When youre a young footballer you have to have a capacious mind in terms of all the information youre given and choose whats good for you, Murphy added.When you work with someone like Pep Guardiola, take on board what hes saying because hes been there and done it, hes improved some of the best players in the world.Raheem deserves credit for not just wanting to improve, but putting in the practice on the pitch and having the courage to do it.
Hudson-Odoi is widely expected to become one of England’s best players

Leon Osman has told talkSPORT he is backing Everton to beat Manchester City, despite what it means for rivals Liverpool's Premier League title bid. Man City travel to Goodison Park on Wednesday night knowing a win would see them overtake Liverpool at the top of the table on goal difference - for the time being, […]
I don't want Liverpool to win the title - but I want Everton
Medel spent the 2013-14 season at Cardiff City

PUPPET Mourinho was sacked in December and replaced with Solskjaer, who won 10 of his first 11 games in charge, but has since endured a wretched couple of months Jose Mourinho claims a 'nice guy' manager can end up becoming a 'puppet' in an apparent message to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho launches sly dig
Josh Yorwerth played against Manchester United and Wayne Rooney in 2015

Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League preview, team news, confirmed line-ups, plus more a fantastic team with good players, not just Harry Kane." as the club manage his
Confirmed Leicester v Tottenham lineups: Rose starts, Lamela
Kane has been ruled out until early March
Manchester United's misery to 'continue for at least a decade
The ex-Everton and Barcelona man is in form for the Hornets and even though one of his two matches is against Manchester United, his second against Fulham makes him a decent punt for points. Hes got four goals and two assists in his last four Premier League games.

~ Transfer news and football gossip: Man United rival Liverpool for Chelsea's Hudson-Odoi, Tottenham want Diogo Jota and Grealish, Arsenal target Ligue 1 duo ~ Kenya Latest
Transfer news and football gossip: Man United rival Liverpool
Old Trafford then

Charlton vs Sunderland: Kick-off time, TV channel and details, live stream, talkSPORT coverage and more The League One play-off final will take place at Wembley this weekend By Marc Williams
Charlton vs Sunderland: Kick-off time, TV channel and details
Ronald Koeman’s side will top the group with victory tonight and a win in Germany on Monday
Izzy Brown plays for first time in 10 months as Leeds United
Jake Cain is also known for his work-rate as well as his passing

Arsenal have breathed new life into the race for the final Champions League spot with a 2-0 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium. First-half goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Laurent Koscielny gave the Gunners a deserved triumph and sees them reduce the gap on the Blues to just three points.
Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea: Alexandre Lacazette and Laurent
Is this the side Emery will field against the Neapolitans?

Aston Villa vs West Brom live on talkSPORT: Commentary, stream and confirmed line-ups for Championship play-off clash All you need to know to tune into the semi-final tie at Villa Park By Marc
West Brom vs Aston Villa live on talkSPORT: Commentary
Virgil van Dijk was outstanding for Liverpool once again
Manchester United verdict: Simon Jordan responds to Jose
Munas Dabbur in action for Red Bull Salzburg.

Arsenal were handed a shock 1-0 defeat by Belarusian outfit BATE Borisov in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League Round of 32 fixture on Thursday. Arsenal started brightly at the Borisov Arena
Bate Borisov 1-0 Arsenal: Gunners suffer defeat in Belarus
It was a night to remember for Callum Hudson-Odoi on Thursday

Former Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner is due a staggering £30m payout after their promotion playoff success. The Daily Mail says the bumper payout was agreed during Dr Tony Xia's takeover of the
Former owner Lerner nets £30m windfall after Villa clinch
allmysportsnews.com/soccer/former-owner-lerner-nets-30m-windfall-after-villa-clinch-promotion/
Former Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner nets £30MILLION windfall after their promotion due to clause inserted in Dr Tony Xia's 2016 takeover. The bumper payout was agreed during Tony Xia's takeover of the club in 2016; Xia paid £76.2m, with an extra £30m if they were promoted within three years
Former Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner to bank £30m following
The Hammers move up to ninth, but Fulham are rooted to the bottom

Former West Ham and England player Stuart Pearce believes there's no reason why Declan Rice can't become Three Lions captain one day. Rice, 20, was called up to Gareth Southgate's squad for their Euro 2020 qualifiers against Czech..
Stuart Pearce backs West Ham United's Declan Rice to become
Chelsea won their previous encounter with Crystal Palace back in November

Liverpool vs Napoli: Mohamed Salah's goal just enough to fire Reds into Champions League last 16. Liverpool 1-0 Napoli: Mohamed Salah's ninth goal in nine Champions League appearances at Anfield