Gomez looking to grab his big chance with England

level and I’m just happy to have the opportunity to play.”

Gomez swapped Charlton for Liverpool in 2015, with his bright start to life at Anfield brought to a shuddering halt by an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered when playing for England Under21s that October.

It led to a 15-month lay-off that ended his 2015-16 campaign and meant he made just three appearances last term.

Gomez has returned strongly this season and Southgate - the Under-21s manager when he was injured - intends to try the defender in a three-man back line, despite him being utilised as a full-back by Klopp this season.

“Ideally I want to end up as a centre-back,” he said. “That’s where I think I can progress the most and develop to be the best I can be.

“But I enjoy playing at fullback and it’s helped me with my development to this point.

“For me being a young player getting regular games, regardless of the position, I’m just happy to be able to learn. But I do see myself moving inside towards centre-half and hopefully playing most of my career there.”

Asked if that was Klopp’s view too, Gomez said: “Yes, I believe so. I think with injuries opportunities have come to play at full-back.

“But while I’m here I will just focus on wherever the manager wants me to play. I’m happy to play wherever, whether it’s full back of centre half. I will adapt to whatever he wants and I’m happy to do so.”

And Gomez is happy to have kept the faith in his ability and not left Liverpool on loan in the summer.

“At the time my main aim was to attack the off-season and to be in the best possible shape for pre-season,” he said.

“I saw it as a fresh start. It was in the back of my mind that I could potentially go out on loan if I didn’t see things going the way I wanted them to go.

“But the manager gave me the belief that I could work my way into the team. I’m thankful that it feels like the right decision to stay and work for my place.

“I knew I could go out on loan as I went a year without regular football, but thankfully I got that at my club.”