Joe Gomez believes his future lies at centre-back with Liverpool – and it is a view shared by his club manager, Jurgen Klopp.

And the Reds star has revealed how it was Klopp himself who helped Gomez decide to stay and fight for his first-team place this summer.

The defender is in line to make his full international debut for England this week after a strong start to the season at Anfield.

But despite the vast majority of those appearances coming at right back – deputising for the injured Nathaniel Clyne – the 20-year-old sees himself progressing into the centre, though he is simply happy to be playing for now.

“Ideally I want to end up as a centre-back,” Gomez 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 full back 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.”

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Asked if that was Klopp’s view too, Gomez added: “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.”

Klopp does see Gomez as a long-term option in the middle of his defence, and considered giving him game time there within the first few weeks of his arrival on Merseyside.

However, Gomez suffered a knee injury playing for Gareth Southgate’s Under-21s in Klopp’s first week at the club, leading to a long absence and a testing period of rehabilitation.

Upon his return to fitness, the former Charlton man made just three first-team appearances under Klopp last season – all in the FA Cup – and could have left Liverpool on loan to gain first-team football over the summer.

Yet the club’s failure to sign Virgil van Dijk, coupled with Clyne’s long-term back problem, convinced Gomez he would be needed for senior duties – a move which has paid off for both player and club, with the Catford-born star thriving.

Gomez, who joined from the Addicks in 2015, is happy to have kept the faith in his own ability, and paid tribute to Klopp for convincing him to stay.

Joe Gomez admits it is a dream to be called up by England

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

“I saw it as a fresh start, a blank page to progress again. 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 was aware that I could go out on loan because I went a year without regular football, but thankfully I got that at my club.”

Gomez’s England call-up is just reward for his perseverence following an injury which saw him miss 15 months of football.

The Three Lions meet Germany on Friday and Brazil on Tuesday, both at Wembley, with the defender likely to feature.

It offers him the opportunity to stake a claim for the World Cup squad next summer – just four years after filling in wallcharts on his bedroom wall for Brazil 2014.

“It was probably towards the back end of 2014 when I signed a deal at Charlton,” he remembered.

“Even though I’m young, it was a while back. It seems a while ago.

“Obviously I watched the games at my mum and dad’s house in Catford.

“I remember getting the timetables from magazines - either Match of the Day or Match Attax, and just tuning in and keeping up to date.

“It would have taken a lot to convince me that would be a reality (to go this time).

“Obviously I would grab the chance if it was put in front of me. It does seem like quite a journey. It’s had its ups and downs.

“I had a season when I was injured and it took a lot to stay strong through that.

“But this is the sort of thing that was my motivation to get the opportunity to play for England at senior level and I’m just happy to have the opportunity to play.”