Pep Guardiola move let Raheem Sterling shake off Euros hangover amid Harry Maguire struggles

Raheem Sterling might consider Tubthumping by Chumbawamba as his walk-on music should he ever decide to step foot into a boxing ring.

No matter how many times they try and knock him down, the Manchester City forward gets back up and proves there is, ultimately, no keeping him down.

It wasn't caused by the selection of drinks listed in that classic 1990s anthem, but the England national team were left to contend with a different sort of hangover this summer.

But that man Sterling has evaded those potential after-effects with trademark elusiveness.

Becoming the first England men's team to reach a major international final since 1966, immortality was a few kicks away from Gareth Southgate and his heart-broken squad.

Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka were the unfortunate ones to miss from 12 yards.

Penalty defeat to Italy beneath the famous Wembley was particularly emotional for those three. Alas, the nation generally reached out to them in their hour of need - minus any imbeciles who subjected the players to vile racist abuse online.

The applause Sancho, Rashford and Saka received by supporters at rival clubs upon the return to domestic action silenced that barbaric noise, but while hands were joined across the footballing community, there is one man who defied the odds to kick on from that gut-wrenching end to the summer.

And he had added motive to do so.

Sterling was cast aside by Pep Guardiola before and after his Euro 2020 heroics. Barring a start in the Champions League showpiece, the England international was seldom used in important matches for several months - but has since re-emerged as one of the first names on the City team sheet.

That was already the case by the time his eighth, ninth and tenth goals