King: I will play anywhere Sven wants

Last updated : 11 October 2005 By Spurs mad

Instead the soon-to-be 25-year-old has decided that playing in midfield could ‘possibly open more doors’.

But King has been down this road at Spurs under previous management. Maybe England coach Sven Goran Eriksson preferring Sol Campbell after dropping Rio Ferdinand initially for the Austria game has finally taken its toll.

King’s excellent form at club level so far this season after missing the opening month with a groin injury might still earn him a start against Poland this Wednesday. But the Spurs skipper is at a bit of a loss to explain why. He revealed the England coach mentioned fielding him in midfield against Austria even before injury to Steven Gerrard and Michael Carrick’s absence had forced the Swede to make a decision in the second half of another poor all-round England performance.

With a World Cup quickly approaching, now isn’t the time for England’s players to feel confused about team selection – indeed King is just delighted to receive the recognition he deserves and be involved again at international level.

"If I can get on the pitch by playing in different positions, then I am happy to do that. Obviously it’s great just to be in the squad and to get on the pitch is great for me also.

After taking instructions from a slightly more animated Eriksson than we have been used to King went out and did the job asked of him at Old Trafford on Saturday.

"I was quite comfortable with that. I haven ’t got a problem with it. People here have said that I can do a good job in that position so it's something I've had to work towards.

"I still see what you can do through hard work. I’m proud of Ashley (Cole) because he’s become one of the best left-backs there is. If you work hard enough, it can happen to anyone," King told The Times.

King played with Cole at Sunday league level and with Campbell at Tottenham. With several Spurs youngsters in defence and midfield involved with England already can he not see himself and Michael Dawson pressuring the other big names currently in the England back line?

He told the Daily Telegraph: "We've looked around the squad and seen a lot of young talent and the next step is to develop that. This is going to be the tough part, but if we work hard and keep learning from each other it can only be good."