'You need four to five weeks, especially when you're literally playing to win': Manchester City's Raheem Sterling says the Premier League's restart date MUST be later than June 12 in Zoom call with USA World Cup star Megan Rapinoe

Raheem Sterling has publicly appealed for Premier League players to be given more time to prepare for the league's resumption.

Early indications from the English top-flight's decision-makers and their 'Project Restart' scheme suggest that the Premier League is pencilled in to return on June 12.

However, the Manchester City winger believes players need at least a month of full training before they can return to competitive action - which would mean the June 12 date is not possible.

Raheem Sterling thinks the June 12 restart date for the Premier League is too early

Sterling (right) was speaking in an interview with US soccer star Megan Rapinoe (left)

In an YouTube interview with US women's national team captain Megan Rapinoe, Sterling said: 'You can't come back in with one and a half or two weeks [of training].