Tyrone Mings is ready to rival Harry Maguire for his England starting place once the Manchester United captain is fit again.
Mings impressed during England's 1-0 win over Croatia on Sunday, starting ahead of Maguire as the latter recovers from an ankle ligament injury.
It is expected that Maguire will resume his partnership with John Stones once he is cleared to play, but Mings wants to give manager Gareth Southgate a selection headache by being ready to match his team-mate once he returns.
Asked if it was a matter of course that Maguire would replace him when fit, Mings said: "I don’t think I am qualified enough to answer that because I don’t pick the team.
"All I can do, and I know this is extremely boring, is train well and play well if called upon to try and throw my hat in the ring for a starting position ever when he is fit.
"I would hate to answer that question because I would hate to have the selection issues that the manager has."
Mings is likely to get another chance to impress against Scotland on Friday, but says it feels strange that some are suggesting he is now ahead of Maguire in the pecking order.
"It is a little bit bizarre bearing in mind how much credit in the bank Harry has got and what a fantastic defender he is," said Mings.
"But at the same time there is absolutely competition for places and I think he's somebody that I look up to in terms of a centre-back, and somebody that is so consistent with a lot of pressure on his shoulders being captain of Man United and being one of the main players for England.
"He’s a person I take a lot of inspiration from. So to be mentioned in the same breath of as him is a compliment in itself."
