Brendan Rodgers backs Jon Flanagan for World Cup spot

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has tipped Jon Flanagan for a place in the England World Cup squad.

The young defender has impressed as both a right and left-back for the Reds this term, and the Northern Irish coach believes that the 21-year-old can work his way into Roy Hodgson's Three Lions squad this summer.

Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo: "Jon has that potential. He has all the qualities to play in that position for England.

"Obviously Glen Johnson is in there and [Tottenham Hotspur's] Kyle Walker as well, but Roy will know as well as anyone the pressures of playing and managing a club like Liverpool.

"For a young player like Jon to be producing the performances he has done takes some doing. The quality he's playing at, especially in big games, has been outstanding. The key for Jon is making sure he doesn't think he has cracked it which he has probably learned from last time."

Flanagan is uncapped at full international level.