Gerrard backs under-fire Lampard

Gerrard is concerned that England's task against Estonia on Wednesday night will be made that much harder if Lampard is subjected to more booing in Tallinn - or if travelling fans turn to the sort of sustained barracking that the players endured against Andorra.

Gerrard said: "It was a shock to me. You hear it on the tannoy as they go through the names, the majority of the team got a cheer but not for Frank, he got a few jeers. As a football player it can affect you two ways. I definitely know the way Frank will go - he will beat them. He'll score a wonder goal in the next few games or put in a wonderful performance."

He added: "You either go into a shell or you puff your chest out, take it on the chin and get on with it. You use it to drive you on. I've had a few jeers in my time, you take it on the chin and get on with it.

"Let's get this right - we all know Frank, he's a world-class player. For me, it's so surprising because we are so lucky to have Frank Lampard in an England shirt.

"I play against him when he's at Chelsea and he's a nightmare to play against. You see him every week scoring goals. For me the ability is there. There is no question in my mind."

There was a timely boost for Steve McClaren after John Terry and Joe Cole came through Monday's training session unscathed. Terry was substituted against Brazil due to a tight hamstring while Cole suffered a knock in the friendly.

Victory is now the only option for England - Saturday's results in the other Euro 2008 qualifiers mean they trail Croatia by five points and both Israel and Russia by three in Group E.

Estonia may have failed to notch up a single point or even a goal but Gerrard warned that England must not let the minnows frustrate them in the same way as Andorra did.

He added: "We could end up making hard work of it again. Anything is possible in international football. That Andorra game, believe it or not, was one of the hardest international games I have ever played in."