8th December 2022
"Raheem Sterling will return to England's World Cup base in Qatar. The Chelsea forward temporarily left to attend to a family matter but is now expected to re-join the squad in Al
Wakrah on Friday ahead of the quarter-final with France," the FA said in a statement.
Sterling missed the Three Lions’ 3-0 win against Senegal in the round of 16, with Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka playing either side of striker and Captain Harry Kane.
The Chelsea forward received the backing of England Coach Gareth Southgate.
"At the moment clearly, the priority is for him to be with his family. We're going to support
that and leave him to have as much time as he needs," Southgate told reporters.