Ways of Eddie Jones

forward, we’re going to need all these players. It’s important we all buy into it.”

Bertrand will almost certainly start against Lithuania tonight but his mind will not be on cementing his place in the absence of injured regular left-back Danny Rose. He won his first cap back in 2012 shortly after becoming an unlikely star of Chelsea’s Champions League triumph against Bayern Munich.

It’s taken him four-and-a-half years to reach cap number 12 and, like Rose, is ideally suited to the wing back role should Southgate opt to use it.

“It’s not been more important for me to impress this week than when I’ve been in the team before,” he says. “It’s a very competitive team we have. We have great depth in all positions, especially at fullback and you can’t get caught up in personal ambitions.

“You must try to provide your team with what needs to be done and you can reflect afterwards.

“I like both left-back and wing-back. I relish the chance to adapt to new roles.

“When I was first in the youth team at Chelsea, in Jose Mourinho’s first era at Chelsea, we were really adaptable.

“We knew the systems inside out and would change from one to the other within a game. That gave you an edge.

“England will be a stronger force if we are adaptable.”