Midfielder Jordan Henderson has urged his team-mates to improve their performances in order to help Gareth Southgate earn the chance to become the permanent England boss.

The former Middlesbrough coach is currently the interim manager after he took over the reigns following Sam Allardyce’s shock exit after just one game.

The Football Association handed Southgate four games as they looked for Allarydce’s successor and he has picked up four points so far.

His side beat Malta 2-0 on Saturday at Wembley, before being held to a goalless draw in Slovenia on Tuesday evening.

England, 19.00 to win the World Cup, rode their luck in Ljubljana, with goalkeeper Joe Hart making several key saves to keep his side in the game.

Tuesday’s draw leaves England top of Group F after three matches but Henderson believes the 46-year-old deserves to be given a chance.

He told Sky Sports: “The players have got on really well with him. We’re close as a group and we’ve had meetings about what we want to do as a team.

“The manager has been brilliant with us so we need to put in the performances, not just for ourselves, but the fans and him and the coaching staff as well to make sure we keep working together for a long time.

“He’s spoken to the players as a group and individually as well and I think that has helped. We’ve worked well together as a group.

“He gives responsibility to players and he listens. It’s been a good week. It would have been better with two wins, but we’ve got to take the positives: beating Malta and getting a good point from this game.”