Jenkinson: Playing inverted full-back is a steep learning curve

Carl Jenkinson has explained why the inverted full-back is now one of the most complex roles in football.

It is a defensive system used by the 31-year-old's former club Arsenal, with Oleksandr Zinchenko the standout performer in the position for manager Mikel Arteta.

Jenkinson, who now plays for Newcastle Jets in Australia, was asked to operate as an inverted full-back when he first went Down Under and joined Melbourne City in 2022.

Speaking exclusively to LiveScore, he said: "It's a really niche position and a very modern role.

"When I first came to Australia I was playing inverted full-back at Melbourne City, who like Manchester City are owned by City Group, and they want all their teams playing a certain way.

"And you have to learn a lot to play that position — and learn quickly!

"You essentially become a midfielder for large parts of the game and you're always checking over your shoulder, it took me five to 10 games to get the hang of it.

"From hugging the touchline and overlapping to picking up pockets of space and making sure your movements are timed perfectly to receive the ball. There was a lot to it.

"You look at someone like Zinchenko and he's so complete as a footballer, so technically gifted, that he almost makes it look easy. 

"But it's something you've really got to practice because it adjusts the whole team, so you've also really got to think about transitions from the opponent."

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Aussie quality

Jenkinson's decision to swap England for Australia is certainly not one he regrets, with the right-back winning the A-League title in 2021-22 with Melbourne. 

The former Charlton defender revealed he was "pleasantly surprised" by the quality of football on display Down Under.

He explained: "Quite a few English players are making their way out to Australia now.

"And I think the general consensus is that the A-League is a good place to be, the standard of football just keeps on improving.

"You've got a lot of quality players here from all over the world. 

"When I first got out here, I was pleasantly surprised by the level — and let's not forget a lot of the young talent here in Australia eventually ends up in Europe."

Enjoying the moment

On whether others should follow the same path as him, Jenkinson added: "It depends on what you want from your career.

"For me, it was as much about football as having a new life experience and seeing somewhere completely different. 

"Footballers' careers are famously short, so go and enjoy as many experiences as you can.

"I just take things year by year now, because you never know what is round the corner in football.

"I try and enjoy every day that I train with the lads and enjoy every single game that I play. 

"I could stay in Australia, I could end up back in Europe somewhere, who knows? But that's the joy of it and whatever happens, I will be enjoying my football journey to the maximum."