Liverpool defender Joe Gomez accepts he needs to be playing to earn his England spot.

Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate rates Gomez highly but the Liverpool centre-half has found himself behind Everton 's Michael Keane in the England pecking order, with Harry Maguire and John Stones the current first choices.

The Kop defender said: “I cannot blame him (Southgate). He speaks to me and is a great manager but if you meet up with England you are expected to be playing so I have to keep working hard.

“I have not been playing and every footballer wants to be playing.

"At the same time I understand that we are European champions and the lads are doing very well at the minute so all I can do is keep my head down, keep working hard in training, and wait for my chance.

"You cannot sit there and be down. You have to stay positive and do yourself justice when the time comes.

“You need to show the good attitude otherwise you will do yourself harm."