World Cup 2018: Jordan Henderson willing to play more advanced role for Gareth Southgate's England

The Liverpool captain plays as a holding midfielder at club level but is willing to move upfield if necessary

Jordan Henderson is happy to take on a more advanced midfield role under Gareth Southgate if it means starting for England at this summer’s World Cup.

Southgate suggested earlier this week that England would play with just one holding midfield player - or ‘pivot’ - in their opening games against Group G’s lower seeds Tunisia and Panama.

The decision is likely to leave Henderson and Eric Dier to contest a single place in midfield, despite lining up alongside each other during the closing stages of World Cup qualifying last year.

Southgate has stressed that both Henderson and Dier - part of a five-man ‘leadership group’ within the camp - will still play important roles during the tournament and suggested that either could be deployed elsewhere on the pitch.

Henderson, who started and impressed as the ‘pivot’ in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Costa Rica, would be willing to play as an advanced No 8 if Dier gets the nod over him.

“I will play wherever he wants us to play – whether that is a more protective role or a more advanced role,” he said after the final whistle at Elland Road on Thursday night.

“Obviously I have been a lot more used to the more entrenched position. But I would be pretty comfortable in either position. So hopefully when the first game comes I will be in the first XI.”

The Liverpool captain added: “Every time I play for England I try to do my best and try to give everything. Then it is up to the manager to decide who is in the best eleven for the first game and then for the games after that.

“But I feel in good form – have felt in good form for a long time. I feel as though I am going in the right direction and getting better. Improving, getting better all the time. And I feel good, so hopefully when the first game comes, I will be raring to go.”

Henderson’s outing at Elland Road was his first since suffering a bitter defeat with Liverpool in last month’s Champions League final.

The 27-year-old expects the disappointment of losing to Real Madrid will stay with him forever, but he hopes to channel those still-raw emotions into international football and this summer’s tournament in Russia.

“I don’t think I shall ever forget [losing the Champions League final] really. It will always be there because it hurts so much.

“I think you can learn from that experience and it can help you as a player to get better to want to get there again. To keep striving and keeping wanting more, to keep improving. So think it can help.”

Henderson added: “It is obviously difficult to think like that straight after it, but it was good that I got some time with my family just to switch off and refocus on the World Cup.”