GARETH Southgate has spoken out after a horror break-in at Raheem Sterling’s Surrey mansion forced him to race home from the World Cup.
The England boss said the Chelsea ace’s future in the tournament is still up in the air following the home invasion.
Southgate was asked about Sterling’s absence after his team hammered Senegal 3-0 and cruised through to the quarter-finals next Saturday.
“We’ve got to wait and see,” he said.
“At the moment the priority is for him to be with his family, we’re going to support that and give him as much time as he needs.
“He’s going home… he needs time with his family.
“Sometimes football isn’t the most important thing and family should come first.”
England captain Harry Kane also sent best wishes to pal Sterling after the match, and said that he hoped he could return “as soon as possible”.
He said: “Our thoughts are with him and his family.
“It is a private matter but it is never easy to see one of your teammates and friends go through something like that.
“For us as a team, we all send him our best and hope we will see him as soon as possible.”
It emerged tonight that the England star was forced to dash back to his Surrey mansion after armed burglars broke into his home while his fiancé and young children were in the house.
The horror break-in occurred on Saturday evening – the night before England’s World Cup clash.
His terrified fiancé Paige Milian, 27, raised the alarm after the gang took £300,000 of watches.
It is not yet known whether property developer Paige confronted the armed robbers, or if they scarpered after realising the family was home.
The gang may have thought she and the couple’s sons, aged five and three, were still in Qatar.
A family source said: “This was terrifying for her and obviously traumatic for all the family.
“Raheem will have been beside himself with worry when he heard. To be away when your partner and children are at home when an armed gang breaks in is beyond words.
“It looks like about £300,000 of watches have been taken. The police were there several hours.”
The boss of a national intelligence unit focused on serious organised crime has warned of a rise in raids on stars due to gangs scouring social media feeds.
Supt Carl Williams, of Operation Opal, said: “In today’s world where many wealthy individuals are active on social media their significant public profile can help make them targets.
“Their high-value possessions are often on display as well as information about their plans.”
Before the game, Sterling’s absence from the clash was explained as due to “a family matter”.
A spokesperson for the FA said: “Raheem Sterling is not available for selection for the #ThreeLions tonight as he is dealing with a family matter.”
The shock announcement came just hours before the Three Lions were due to kick off against the African Cup of Nations champs.
But with England now set to face reigning-World Cup champs France next Saturday, it remains unclear whether Sterling will be a part of the squad.
