The Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson, one of the contenders to succeed Wayne Rooney as England captain, says that the team’s aim must always be to win a World Cup.

The 27-year-old is back in the England squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Malta on Friday and Slovakia three days later after a long absence with injury that kept him out of action from February to the end of last season.

He has made a strong start this season with Liverpool and, speaking at St George’s Park on Tuesday, said that he hoped to be under consideration for the captaincy having had the armband against Slovenia and Spain last season.

“It’s a massive honour,” he said. “When Gareth [Southgate] gave me the opportunity to captain for the first time, in November, it was a huge honour for me and looking at Harry when he captained the squad, it was a huge honour for him. Joe [Hart] has done it, Gary [Cahill] has done it. There’s a lot of lads in the team that have done it and that can do it so, like I say, it’s totally down to the manager and what he feels is right for him and the team.”