England v Ukraine: manager Roy Hodgson warns potential new England international Raheem Sterling against the hype They've had attention as a young player. If they're going to be really top players, they'll come through it. You have to deal with the hype. "But we'll be making it clear to Raheem: "Look, it's a great start, there's interest in you, but don't read too much into being here other than we're watching you." He mustn't think he's become a part of the set-up and has made it. He has to try, next time, to make sure he is one of the original 23. We'll be watching him before October [and the games with San Marino and Poland] to see whether he'll merit a place in the squad. Hodgson has been in contact with Sterling's manager, Brendan Rodgers, who had initially expressed reservations about the youngster being accelerated through the age-group ranks. I've spoken to Brendan and cleared this up with him. He's satisfied. I've explained the thinking behind him coming in. He's important for Liverpool and great for the team. He thought it was nice for him to be soaking up the atmosphere around a big game. Hodgson insisted that the move for Sterling was nothing to do with the (slim) possibility of the Kingston-born player being successfully wooed by Jamaica. If Sterling comes off the bench tonight in a competitive match he is automatically tied to England. "That's not why I've called him up,"" said Hodgson. I'm prouder of the English football shirt than that. If Raheem decides he wants to play for Jamaica, he'll go with my blessing. But I'd like to think he'll have the right desire to play for England, because I think he's a potential English player. Gerrard has clearly already had a word with his Liverpool team-mate. "He will,"" said the England captain when asked whether Sterling would commit to the Three Lions. That point has already been made. Gerrard is an admirer of Sterling but echoed Hodgson's call for restraint in billing the teenager as the Next Great English Hope. "He's a quiet kid, wants to learn, wants to listen,"" said Gerrard. His impact has been fantastic. Don't rush him - don't put too much expectation on him. He's 17 and has played a handful of games, but he needs to improve and learn off people. He's done fantastically well so far. It won't be too long before he's a regular in this squad - he is that good and has that talent."" The introduction of another ingenu into the England squad has intensified talk about the changing face, even national identity, of the Premier League. Of the 209 players who started for the 19 Premier League teams in action on the last weekend of Premier League action, including Chelsea in the Uefa Super Cup, only 66 were available to England. This contrasts with other leagues such as La Liga: 64.3 per cent; Ligue 1: 62.7 per cent; Serie A: 52.1 per cent; Bundesliga: 45 per cent; Premier League (plus Chelsea in Monaco): 31.6 per cent. "Would I prefer to have a reverse of that statistic, with 66 per cent of players being English, of course I would,"" responded Hodgson. But that's not going to happen. The Premier League is a fantastic league, but it's a league that embraces all the top European players. That top talent, at a young age, finds it difficult to break into the team because of the established European talent in front of them. There'll be occasions when I select people and you say they're only reserves at United, Arsenal, Liverpool or Chelsea. But I may think they're worthy of a place. I'd like to think they're there because they have the talent to be there, even if the numbers of games they can boast is relatively small. For those we invited to join the squad for the game against Italy, like Ryan Bertrand, Kyle Walker, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, have created a good impression on myself and my staff, and the senior players. They recognise these guys can play football. Yet only Walker at Spurs is a guaranteed starter for his club. As a former Premier League manager, Hodgson is aware of the dynamic of the premium on English talent versus the more reasonably priced and vastly more experienced European options. "Every club manager has only one duty: to his club,"" said Hodgson. The cupboard is not quite bare but is in need of restocking. Slightly alarmingly, Hodgson noted that he had been assessing possible internationals outside of the Premier League. "We are aware of the talents in the Championship,"" said Hodgson. The new boys Raheem Sterling Age 17 Position: Winger Club: Liverpool Joined from/fee: QPR, £600,000 Premier League appearances: 5 All apps (including lower divisions, loan spells etc): 5 England U-21 apps: None An attacking winger given his debut in March by Kenny Dalglish. Adam Lallana Age 24 Position: Attacking midfielder Club: Southampton Joined from/ fee: Bournemouth, £18,000 Premier League apps:3 All apps: 200 U-21: apps 1 Lallana can play as winger or "in the hole." Jake Livermore Age: 22 Position: Central midfielder Club Tottenham Joined from/ fee: Spurs Academy Premier League apps: 27 All apps: 75 U-21 apps: None Senior apps: 1 Livermore has impressed as a central midfielder in loan spells with six clubs and made full England debut against Italy.