Pep equals renewed energy for happy Sterling at City

Sterling became the most expensive English player when he joined City from Liverpool for 44 million pounds ($57.57 million) last year, but struggled to justify his hefty price tag in a disappointing first season in Manchester.

(Reuters)

The 21-year-old, however, has made a bright start to the new campaign, scoring two goals and claiming two assists in the Premier League, while playing a pivotal role in unbeaten City's Champions League playoff victory over Steaua Bucharest.

"I'm enjoying my football and I am enjoying winning games and I am working hard to continue doing that. This is the season you will see me working my hardest, that's for sure," Sterling told British media.

"I didn't come into the season thinking: 'I want to show everyone'. But just to concentrate on my football, that's the most important thing.

"People will talk, but the most important thing for me was to come in and do well under the new manager and impress here. I knew if I kept working hard I would get my chances."

Sterling's strong start to the campaign has also not gone unnoticed by new England manager Sam Allardyce, who named the winger in his squad for Sunday's World Cup qualifier away to Slovakia.

City, who top the Premier League standings on nine points from three matches, next play city rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sept. 10.

($1 = 0.7644 pounds)

(Reporting by Shravanth Vijayakumar in Bengaluru; Editing by John O'Brien)