West Ham United winger Stewart Downing has admitted that playing at left-back for Liverpool ranks as the lowest point of his career.

The 30-year-old operated in a defensive position occasionally during what proved to be his last season at Anfield before joining the Hammers in 2013.

Downing has since rebuilt his career in East London and was recently handed a first England call-up since 2012 after his impressive early-season form for West Ham.

When asked if playing left-back under Brendan Rodgers represented rock bottom, he told The Mirror: "I think so, yes. I was out of the team so for me just to play and get back in the team was a big thing.

"At left-back it was obviously difficult, but it was a chance to get back into the team for me, so I had to go along with it.

"I wasn't happy playing left-back. It is not my natural position. But I knew from then it was the time for me to move."

Downing, who joined the Reds for a reported £20m from Aston Villa, has scored twice and bagged four assists for Sam Allardyce's side this season.