TOMMY Makinson scored three tries and pulled off a similar number to defend the line in a man of the match winning performance for England at Anfield.

It propelled the 26-year-old Saints wing into the spotlight - and when asked about his performance, England coach Wayne Bennett said he wanted "to know where you have been hiding him."

It is not that he has been hidden, but it has been something of a tough comeback on the international front for Makinson who was denied earlier representative honours by injury.

He broke his ankle in 2015 and just as he was finding form he damaged his Anterior Cruciate Ligament on Easter Monday and was ruled out for the rest of the 2016 campaign.

But a strong return in 2017 saw him sign a new deal which will keep him in the red vee until the end of 2021 was backed up by a storming season, lit up by quality finishes and some strong set-starting runs.

That finally saw him break into the international ranks and after a try-scoring England debut in the centres in Denver in June, Makinson has made the wing spot his own in the current series.

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Three tries - and plenty of adulation - was the icing on the cake for the Dream Team wing who made his debut in 2011 and is contracted until the end of 2021.

Makinson said: "I really enjoyed it. Three tries in my third England appearance means a lot.

"Brushing aside the tries I thought it was a pretty special performance by the team and we dug deep because they started off good, like we knew they would, and we got over the line with team spirit.

"I don't think I have ever been as involved as much as that. Whatever comes your way, you just deal with it. I think to a man we did that.

"Out there 17 blokes gave their all and that is why it is 2-0."

Makinson finished off his tries well - the first from a looping George Williams cut-out pass, the others courtesy of fine play from outstanding full back Jonny Lomax and Jake Connor.

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Makinson worked well outside Connor - and benefited from his quick hands.

Makinson said: "He is quite under-rated skill wise.

"The skills he has got are really good and he can do special things. He has quick hands and that is what you want from a centre.

"He has great competition for that place - Mark Percival is one of the best centres in the comp and between them they have some silky skills. With Oliver Gildart in there we are pretty blessed in the centres at the minute."

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Makinson was keen to sing the praises of England coach Bennett who has helped the team develop - even one missing so many big characters through injury.

"I don't think Wayne Bennett gets all the credit he deserves, not that he's bothered because he has been around for so many years.

"He's been around for so long, coaching so many great players, but what he's doing with this group of lads is special.

"He fills us all with confidence, bringing in a player like me who is 26 and not had a shot for a while, putting a lot of confidence in you takes some doing.

"He's done it with a lot of lads, I think there's 10 changes to the squad and there's some big names missing out so to do that is a credit to him, he's a pretty special bloke," he said.