Man City star Raheem Sterling sends his hat trick ball to his mother

Raheem Sterling has another present for his mother after netting a rapid hat-trick in Manchester City’s Champions League thrashing of Atalanta.

The England forward struck three times in the space of just 11 second-half minutes as City, who trailed early in the match, ran out 5-1 winners in the Group C clash at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

It was the 24-year-old’s fifth treble for club or country, his fourth this calendar year and second this season, earning him another match ball for a growing collection.

‘They are at my mum’s house in Jamaica,’ he said of his previous prizes.

‘I’ve put them in a little glass box and I’ve bought an extra six cases just in case I do score a hat-trick, so I can put it straight in a case and give it to her. So, I’ll give it to my mum to put away.’

Sterling has spoken at length of the commitment his mother made in order for him to start a new life in England, having moved to the UK shortly after his father’s murder when he was two years old.

The family were based within walking distance of Wembley Stadium, and Sterling recalls memories of his mother juggling multiple jobs in order to provide for her family.

‘My mum was working as a cleaner at some hotels to make extra money so she could pay for her degree,’ Sterling told The Player’s Tribune. ‘I’ll never forget waking up at five in the morning before school and helping her clean the toilets at the hotel in Stonebridge.’

Sterling is enjoying the form of his life under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. The England and City star has scored 11 goals in his last 12 games, taking his tally for 2019 to a total of 35 goals.

The Englishman has also been included on the 30-man shortlist for this year’s Ballon d’Or award, in which he will look to follow up on Luka Modric’s victory last year to win the award ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.