TAA IS LEAVING ON A JET PLANE, BUT NOT UNTIL BIG AUDITION

KOP star Trent Alexander-Arnold will be given a World Cup audition before finally being allowed to jet off on holiday.

TAA (above) played a huge part in Liverpool’s 63-game season and could have taken an extra few days off after the Champions League final before joining up with England.

But Alexander-Arnold opted to go straight to St George’s Park after the trophy parade Liverpool held as he wanted to stake his claim to be England’s firstchoice right-back.

It means the 23-year-old is likely to get his chance against Hungary today and in Germany on Tuesday before being allowed to recharge his batteries with a summer holiday.

Alexander-Arnold, rated world-class at club level, has yet to be given the opportunity to show that form for England.

England boss Gareth Southgate believes Liverpool’s open-top bus parade gave AlexanderArnold a lift after the disappointment of losing the Champions League final.

Southgate said: “I had a conversation with him and Jordan Henderson before the Champions League final.

“We talked about where they felt they were after the season they both had.

“Trent wanted to come in to do the first part of this camp to keep his rhythm going and to keep his physical preparation going rather than have that dip and then try to come back up again. I have to say he has taken great heart from the parade.

“I think that was a significant lift for him and the rest of the team. Of course they were very disappointed to lose the final but I think the connection they had with the fans that day has definitely been important for him and has allowed the whole team to move on.

“They weren’t sure it was the right thing to do but, now that they’ve done it, they absolutely recognise that it was, so I think that was a lovely moment for all of them.”