Raheem Sterling likens in-form Man City star to his former Liverpool team-mate Luis Suarez

Raheem Sterling has likend Kevin De Bruyne to Luis Suarez

RAHEEM STERLING has likened Kevin De Bruyne to Luis Suarez for his match-changing abilities.

 

De Bruyne has made a stunning start to his Manchester City career with nine goals and nine assists in just 15 starts since his £54million move from Wolfsburg in August.

And Sterling says the Belgium international is having the same positive impact on City that Suarez had on Liverpool during his time on Merseyside.

Sterling formed a devastating attacking triumvirate with Suarez and Daniel Sturridge at Anfield when they were pipped for the Premier League title by City two seasons ago.

 

Luis Suarez has 40 club goals for Barcelona so far in 2015

He said: "Is he like Suarez? Yes, most definitely. Every top team needs a player who scores and assists goals so regularly like Kevin does. It's most important. That's what big players do and we're happy to have him at this football club.

"With Suarez, once he got in and around the box, you knew what he was capable of doing, and usually it ended with a goal.

"It's the same with Kevin. He looks for other players. Look at the assists he's got already and he's proved he's got goals in him regularly as well.

 

"He's a top player."

Sterling says former Chelsea player De Bruyne first came to his attention last season when he scored 16 goals and recorded an astonishing 27 assists for Wolfsburg - the most of any player in Europe's top five leagues.

"I didn't see him much at Chelsea to be honest - not many of us did," he added. "But if you saw him in Germany, the number of goals he was involved in, it was obvious he had quality.

"It's always a test for players to come to England, play regularly and contribute but that's what he's done. Credit to him, he's been incredible.

 

Kevin De Bruyne celebrates with Raheem Sterling after scoring against Southampton last weekend

"He's someone I work with every day and someone I get on really well with. We arrived in the same summer and it's so good to have someone like that in the squad. He's a funny guy, quiet, and gets on with everyone in the team."

Sterling has not had the same dazzling impact as De Bruyne but believes he is improving and making his own contribution - he has set up goals for De Bruyne and Wilfried Bony in City's last two games and has scored six goals so far.

And he knows that winning silverware with City, who are through to the Capital One Cup semi-finals after Tuesday’s 4-1 win over Hull, will help him nail down his England place for Euro 2016.

He added: “I might not be a nine or 10 out of 10 every game but as long as I’m helping the team win, and contributing

 

“This is a great team; great players play for this club. We can switch virtually the whole 11 players and it would still be a top team. I’m happy to be in this team and working with players like this. It can only develop my game. Hopefully in the future I can learn even more from them.

“As you develop and get older you see it’s not just about doing nice things once you get into the right areas, you’ve got to do things that are effective for the team. 

“I would like a few more goals. I always look to beat my total from the last season and I’m on course to do that. I got 11 last year, so if I can top that I’ll be happy.

“I feel relaxed here, I try to keep working hard and hopefully achieve something at the end of the season.”