Liverpool midfielder and former England captain Steven Gerrard has claimed that there is "too much pressure" on the national team's young players.

Nineteen-year-old Raheem Sterling was criticised after manager Roy Hodgson said that he asked to miss the Estonia qualifier due to tiredness.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Ross Barkley has drawn comparisons to Three Lions captain Wayne Rooney.

Gerrard told ITV Sport: "Maybe our country is guilty of putting too much pressure and spotlight on one individual. You start to see similar things now with Raheem Sterling.

"It has always been the way. The media and punters try to grasp on to that one hero and hope he is going to be the person who makes everyone happy at a major tournament."

Sterling and Barkley are expected to line up for England in tonight's Euro 2016 qualifier against Slovenia.