Monday, May 28, 2012

Gerrard - No Injury Scares

Steven Gerrard has played down any fears about his own fitness after playing just a half for England in their friendly with Norway.

The Liverpool skipper has endured a stop-start season both for club and country mainly because of a hamstring injury and in Saturday's international match, the midfield talisman played just 45 minutes of the 1-0 win in Oslo.

However, after the game the 31-year-old was sure to allay any fears of being injured, saying it was agreed that he would come off at half-time in Roy Hodgson's first match in charge.

"It was always the plan for me to play 45 minutes. I had a bit of a tight hamstring towards the end of the season," said Gerrard.

"I missed a couple of games towards the end. But I'm fine, I've come through 45 minutes and I'm raring to go next week."

The England captain was full of praise for the side's solitary goalscorer Ashley Young and believes the Manchester United winger - who has now scored four goals in as many appearances for his country - can be their lethal weapon in next month's Euro 2012 finals.

"Ashley is a good player and when he plays that withdrawn role off the front man and gets in between the lines, he is very dangerous and skilful," said Gerrard.

"Opposing defenders and midfielders don't know how to pick him up because he finds the space so well.

"He is in good form for England and is scoring a lot of goals at the right time with the Euros coming up.

"We are really pleased with Ashley's performance and I thought him and Andy (Carroll) look decent together."

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