World Cup 2018: Trent Alexander-Arnold talks to his mum every day for advice and so she can check he is wearing sun cream
Liverpool's 19-year-old defender is in no rush to go home - but it is where he calls regularly to get the best tips
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD has been talking to his mum on a daily basis while in Russia — but do not mistake that for him wanting to get home.
The Liverpool youngster, pressed into World Cup duty aged just 19, has been getting regular advice from back in England.
The full-back revealed: “She checks up every day to make sure I’m wearing sun cream — she’s so into the details of everything.
“The whole family is like that, we keep well in touch and call a couple of times a day.
“For them to see me play in a World Cup would make them really proud and that’s one of the things that makes me work hard every day in training.
“To see them with a smile on their face and to be proud of me, that’s probably the biggest incentive for me.”
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The Liverpool lad was late to make his case for the World Cup squad, promoted to play with the senior side after an outstanding year in his club colours.
It has been a remarkable rise. This season he has established himself as Liverpool’s first choice right-back, played in a Champions League final and then been named by Gareth Southgate in his World Cup squad.
And although he is away from his mum here in Repino, Alexander-Arnold is still in good hands.
He told Radio 5 live and talkSPORT: “When I got the call, it was going into the unknown.
“All the senior players — all the players in general, really — helped me become part of the team. I really feel involved and part of the squad.
“It’s a lot more relaxed and a lot more together than I thought it might have been as an England squad because you don’t spend too much time together.
“Everyone has the same aims and same goals.
“Everyone has bought into it and wants success as a team.
“I didn’t expect the team to have such good morale but I’ve been blown away by how close every player is with each other.”
Alexander-Arnold hopes to be away for a long period with Southgate’s men, targeting a 35-day stay in Russia and a World Cup final next month.
The Anfield star knows he is behind Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier for a place in England’s starting line-up.
But he hopes to push Trippier all the way after Walker was shifted to play on the right-hand side of England’s three-man defence.
TAA added: “I wasn’t sure how it was going to be, if it was really strict or really laid back.
“It’s a really good balance of youth and experience. Hopefully we’ll see over the course of the tournament that it works well.
“It is good to have players in and around the team who can give you motivation and advice.”