Trent Alexander-Arnold hopes to make a midfield spot his own for England (Picture: Getty Images)
Trent Alexander-Arnold wants his future to be in midfield and he is going to get the chance to prove himself for England against Malta on Friday night.
The Liverpool star has spent most of his career so far at right-back, but has recently been playing a hybrid role of venturing into central midfield when the Reds are in possession and retreating to full-back without the ball.
The 25-year-old believes central midfield is the position that gets the best out of him though, feeling like his skillset is suited for the role.
‘In my teenage years I was a midfielder so it’s a position I have some knowledge of,’ said Alexander-Arnold.
‘How to conduct myself and perform in the middle of the pitch is something that I’ve been tasked with and sitting down and watching and trying to learn and adapt.
‘As for whether I’m a midfielder or not — my specific skillset is probably best suited to someone who plays in the middle of the pitch, someone who controls the game, controls the tempo, creates, breaks line, progresses the ball up the pitch so those kinds of skills you would say are suited to someone who plays in the middle of the pitch.
‘You probably get more out of me from being in the middle and I’m able to show off that skillset as much as possible.’
Alexander-Arnold has not always found it easy to nail down an England place under Gareth Southgate (Picture: Getty Images)
Gareth Southgate will reportedly give the Liverpool man a place in midfield when England host Malta on Friday night in European Championship qualifying.
It will not be the greatest test, but will be a chance for him to shine on the ball, with the Three Lions likely to dominate possession.
There may well be a spot in midfield available going into the European Championships next summer, with Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham seemingly nailing down two of the three places in Southgate’s preferred formation.
However, Kalvin Phillips is still regularly chosen to complete the midfield, but he plays very rarely for his club Manchester City so it would not be ideal for him to be first choice by next summer.
Alexander-Arnold will hope to prove himself and complete an extremely talented trio alongside Rice and Bellingham.
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He will get a chance to impress against Malta.