Alexander-Arnold: I haven’t been on my top form for England

Trent Alexander-Arnold

believes his latest England displays have been "mediocre" and that he has not performed well enough to earn a starting spot. 

The Liverpool defender was dismissed from

Gareth Southgate

's Three Lions selection in March, and despite being included in Gareth Southgate's Euro 2020 team, he was forced to withdraw due to a hamstring injury sustained in a warm-up match against Austria. 

Alexander-Arnold is returning to the international action and trying to fight his way back into Southgate's starting Eleven now that he is fit again.

Alexander-Arnold played his England debut in a World Cup w match against Costa Rica in June 2018 and went through to play in the world championship in Russia. 

He has 13 appearances for the Three Lions, netting a goal once, but thinks his form has slipped substantially after a penalty shootout triumph against Switzerland in the Nations League third-place play-off in June 2019. 

"I thought I played really well then; I just couldn't hit the ground running after that," he told the 

. "Otherwise, they have been mediocre performances by my standard, and that's what I need to improve."

Some Liverpool fans may be surprised by this revelation after watched the 22-year-old claim the right-back position and assist the team win the

and

championships in recent years, may be surprised by this revelation. 

At international level, though, Alexander-Arnold faces stiff rivalry, with Reece James, Kyle Walker, and Kieran Trippier all available to Southgate, which the defender sees as a challenging task.

"I would say there is a lot more competition for places here," added the defender, who is hoping to feature in Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Andorra at Wembley. "At the club I am a regular who plays most of the games. I think it is just not finding form and finding the level I need and the level I demand on a daily basis. I have just not been able to reach that bar.

"You're playing a different system [with England], with different players. It's no excuse, but it's hard to find your feet, to find form when you're not playing in a team with the same players every time. Anyone is going to have difficulties with that.

"I feel like since I've come into the squad, I haven't really been the best version of myself. I haven't put in the performances I have regularly for my club and I expect more for myself when I play for England. Hopefully over the next week I am given an opportunity to perform and am able to take it.

"I want to win trophies [with England] I want to become a regular. I want to lead the team out. And I think those things are achievable for me."

Given the rivalry at right-back, Alexander-Arnold's offensive inclinations have prompted some to speculate that he may move up the pitch and play on the right flank in the future.

Although the 22-year-old has never started in that position for the Reds, he is a forward-thinking full-back who is willing to play there if called upon.

"I am a right-back. I have played that my whole career and I have not really stepped out of it too much," he said. "In big games in the Premier League I haven't been thrown in there [midfield], so it's tough to say that, yeah, I would be able to handle it. You never know.

"I just try to play football. I try to help the team as much as I can, try to get forward and influence the game, create chances and hurt the opposition. Whether I find myself out wide or inside on the ball, it doesn't matter. I want to hurt the opposition and break them down.

"Essentially there are only two people's opinions that can change that and that is both the managers I play for. They are the ones who will make the decision."

Follow 

 for the