Barnes hits out at Lampard critics

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The Chelsea midfielder has now found himself a regular target of abuse from England fans, which was again evident when Lampard came on during the second half against Estonia yesterday.

Unfair criticism: Lampard

While Lampard, 29, has not yet displayed any signs of the jeers affecting him, it is something which his team-mates, such as Joe Cole, and coaches alike find mystifying.

Barnes, 43, won 79 caps for England, netting a famous goal against Brazil in Rio de Janeiro in 1984 and going on to play at both the 1986 and 1990 World Cup finals.

However, the former Watford and Liverpool winger also found himself subject to jeers from home supporters at Wembley later in his career, no doubt frustrated by a perceived underachievement with the national team.

Barnes maintains booing one of your own players can never be a "positive situation".

"That is wrong," Barnes told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme.

"Frank is an England player, and you want England to do well.

"That does go through to the team.

"It is not a positive situation for the team, it does not help them, it does nothing.

"Having been someone who has been through that situation where individual players may be singled out by England fans, it is not healthy for the team."

Barnes - who also played for Newcastle and Charlton, as well as having a brief spell in charge at Celtic - believes Lampard could face a real battle to regain his midfield place in the starting XI when all the contenders are fully fit.

Barnes said: "Gareth Barry has been England's most consistent player in the last three games, and so deserves to play against Russia, and I think he will be able to do that quite comfortably.

"But with all things being equal and everybody being fit, that role in the long term, I believe is Owen Hargreaves' role.

"Defensively against better opposition, he is probably better as a holding midfield player."