Gerrard: I'm back at my best due to McClaren

He believes McClaren's talented squad are the best he has been involved with — and capable of achieving genuine success.

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Gerrard, who played through the pain barrier with a broken toe to help power his country to a 3-0 victory over Israel on Saturday, claimed he was never given the chance to prove himself under Sven Goran Eriksson.

McClaren has accepted Gerrard's best position is in the centre of midfield and the Liverpool star admits Eriksson's tendency to play him in different areas of the pitch knocked his confidence. He was once played as a striker and even as a right back.

Gerrard, who will win his 59th cap against Russia at Wembley tomorrow night, said: 'I feel my performances have improved under Steve. Against Israel, it was the first time I'd been given my favoured midfield role for the national team.

'Under the previous manager, I'd been moved around an awful lot and it was difficult to find a consistency for myself. But the new manager's been great with me. He's had a lot of belief in me and he wants me to express myself in the way I do for Liverpool.'

Gerrard claims the team are operating in a competitive environment after accusations that Eriksson oversaw a 'platinum club'.

The Liverpool star claims the present squad are the best group of players he has been involved with at international level.

He said: 'If this team clicks, the quality is better than the squads that have gone to big tournaments in the past. There's more quality.

'Obviously, I want to play and be selfish, but a team plays well when there's pressure from behind the starting 11 places. Then you know you're going to get performances out of the people who are starting.

'It's getting to the stage where there are two or three people fighting for each position.

'We've under-achieved of late, but with the players we have got, we have to make the most of it.'

England have not progressed beyond the quarter-final stage of a major tournament since they were beaten in the last four by Germany at Euro 96, but Gerrard claims they can do better under McClaren. He added: 'If we can find the consistency, we can go further than the quarter-finals.'