Jordan Henderson hopes his recent run of scoring form can help him finally get one over Italy in Turin on Tuesday.
In his 19 appearances at senior level, the Liverpool midfielder has ended up on the losing side in both meetings with the Azzurri – at Euro 2012 and last summer’s World Cup.
Italy v England
International Match
7.45pm (BST), Tuesday 31 March 2015
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Live on ITV
At Under-21 level he also suffered a 1-0 defeat in the UEFA Finals in Israel in 2013.
England now head to Italy in confident mood following seven consecutive wins, while Henderson has also hit a purple patch with his club, netting three goals in his last four Premier League outings.
And the 24-year-old hopes his first England strike is not far away.
"We played them in the World Cup which was a disappointing result in the end," said Henderson.
"It was a great experience for me to play in the game, my first game in the World Cup.
"It was a fast game - quite end to end - and I think they started well. But we grew into the game and I did feel as though we deserved more.
"They've got some fantastic players and a fantastic team and I'm sure that will be the case on Tuesday, but hopefully this time around it will be different."
Henderson has scored three goals in his last four league games
Henderson continued: "At club level, I’ve been doing the same things that I’ve always been doing for the team.
"Obviously when one or two [goals] fly in your confidence is high. That has been a real turning point and once you get one they tend to come.
"Hopefully I can do that for England – once I can score one I can carry on and get a few more.
"We have to take more responsibility in midfield in that sense, we can’t always rely on the strikers to score the goals, you have to chip in now and then.
"At the same time I’m not going to get caught up on that, I just want to do what is best for the team - the most important thing is winning games."
On Tuesday, Henderson will expect to line-up against a strong Italian side featuring some big names in European football.
Though Andrea Pirlo, who masterminded the victories over England in 2012 and 2014, is not expected to play due to injury, his understudy Marco Verratti is someone who can might life difficult for Roy Hodgson’s men.
Having faced him before, Henderson knows he’ll have his work cut out against the Paris St-Germain midfielder, but he is looking forward to the test as England have one eye on what they might come up against should they reach Euro 2016.
Henderson and Verratti might meet again on Tuesday
"I've seen him a few times and played against him and he's a very good player," said the former Sunderland man.
"He presses the ball well, wins the ball back, breaks up attacks for the team and is good on the ball as well, so he's an important player for them.
"You have to challenge yourself against top players and he certainly is one."
He added: "They're a big side so it will be a test for us but a test that we'll look forward to.
"We have to make sure we're tactically aware and make sure we're doing the right things whether we're pressing or in our block.
"It's a challenge to go to Italy and get a good result and good performance and if we can do that that will put us in good stead if we do manage to qualify."
