Midfield role giving Trent new excitement for England duty

Trent Alexander-Arnold admits his midfield role for England has given him a new-found excitement for international football.

After rising to become one of the Premier League's finest right-backs for Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold's Three Lions career has been one of relative frustration — winning just 21 caps since his debut in 2018.

The 25-year-old often finds himself behind Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier and Reece James in Gareth Southgate's right-back pecking order but excelled in a midfield role against Malta earlier in the campaign.

He is now listed as a midfielder in England's squad announcements and is expected to play that position when they meet Malta again at Wembley on Friday night.

Alexander-Arnold said: "Since we spoke in the summer, me and the manager, about a midfield opportunity and to see if we could make it work, there has been a newfound excitement for me.

"It is a huge opportunity and it is one I am grateful to have, but also making sure I take it. 

"It's still early days, I haven’t had much experience in there so still learning on the job and about picking it up as much as I can when I am in there.

"It is exciting and I enjoy learning, I enjoy having that kind of understanding of the game, trying to understand different roles and positions and admire what people are doing in there."

Southgate has said he felt Alexander-Arnold always possessed the "technical ability" to work as a midfielder.

Alexander-Arnold said: "I can help the team win games, that is just what any player ever wants. 

"I try and do that to the best of my ability and the message I have from the manager is to go and do that in the best way possible."

Asked if going to the Euros as a midfielder was now a target, Alexander-Arnold added: "Massively so, it is something I think about often, it is something that motivates me."