Gerrard eager to make amends for World Cup

Skipper Steven Gerrard has called on England to make a statement of intent in their opening Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria tonight.

England have still to shake off the lingering disappointment of their abject World Cup display but will improve their hopes of redemption with a good display in front of an expectant home crowd at Wembley.

Gerrard's two goals were the high point of last month's unconvincing friendly victory against Hungary in what was England's first outing since the World Cup, and the Liverpool midfielder concedes the pressure is on the players and manager Fabio Capello to prove that a corner has been turned.

"The players and the manager realise that we are under pressure at the moment, which is normal after under-performing at the World Cup," said Gerrard.

"It'll really help if we put in a good performance tomorrow and get the maximum points. Then we can obviously take the confidence from that into the Switzerland game on Tuesday.

"It's very important that we make a statement and show that we want to win the group and qualify comfortably.

"We qualified for the World Cup playing good, attacking football.

"If we can perform at that level I'm sure we'll get out of this group in similar fashion.

"The difficult thing is there's slightly more pressure on us this time around and we have to cope with that.

"We've certainly got the exciting players in the squad to get off to a good start."

With Rio Ferdinand still a little way from a return to the international fold after this week making his comeback from the knee injury that ruled him out of the World Cup, Gerrard will again don the captain's armband tonight, and he revealed he is relishing the role.

"I'm enjoying being captain," he said. "I've captained Liverpool for many, many years and thrive on the responsibility and my performances for England lately have been good and I'm happy with my form."

Asked whether he might be employed in a more attacking role against the Bulgarians following on from his two goals last time out, Gerrard replied: "We'll have to wait and see. The team hasn't been picked yet.

"Obviously I relish that position on the pitch where I can get forward and support the attacking players, so we'll have to wait and see what the manager decides to do, but I would love that opportunity."

With the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Peter Crouch sidelined by injury, and others such as David James, Ledley King and the retired Jamie Carragher out of the picture, tonight's game represents another chance for the next generation of international aspirants to stake their claim.

"After the team under-performed in South Africa there have been changes made, and with injuries to big players as well it's a fantastic opportunity for players to perform well and give the manager something to think about when we get together again," Gerrard added.

Capello, meanwhile, insists he is not nursing a sense of grievance that Chelsea duo Terry and Lampard have both pulled out of the game.

After his turbulent experience at the World Cup, England need to make a solid start to their qualification campaign in order to relieve the pressure on Capello, who is under scrutiny like never before.

Yet the Three Lions must face their immediate future without two of their most senior players.

In both instances, the players featured for their clubs on Saturday, Lampard missing a penalty and Terry completing the full 90 minutes of a home victory against Stoke.

But within hours, Chelsea were confirming the pair would miss England's first competitive international, Lampard to have a groin operation and Terry because of a hamstring injury and various other aches and pains.

As both men are expected to feature for their clubs when the domestic programme resumes later this month, it hardly suggests a huge level of commitment.

However, Capello insists in both instances, the course of action that has been taken makes perfect sense.

"We know Frank Lampard needs an operation to be ready for his club and the next game with us," outlined Capello.

"John Terry has been playing with an injection because all the other Chelsea defenders were injured.

"He told us he had to stay at home because he cannot play all the games.

"At half-time in the game against Hungary he said he couldn't carry on.

"He was with us then. Now he needs to relax in order to be fit for the next games."

James Milner will fill Lampard's midfield vacancy while Phil Jagielka's timely return to training yesterday morning after he recovered from an ankle injury sustained in Everton's Premier League defeat at Aston Villa on Sunday means Capello has a ready-made replacement for Terry.

The loss of Scott Carson to a family bereavement should not cause too many headaches given Joe Hart had already been earmarked for the goalkeeping slot.

Although not quite a new face given he was in South Africa, Hart is bringing some freshness to a rather familiar-looking England side, which has been welcomed by Capello.

"Joe is my number one goalkeeper," he said.

"He is good. He has improved a lot.

"He played last season with Birmingham but was too young for South Africa.

"Now we have changed some things and he is doing very well."

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.