Lampard backing his Blues brother to be the lion king

Lampard missed Capello's first match as national manager, against Switzerland, because of a thigh injury and is desperate to force his way back into the Italian's plans.

He caused a scare at the weekend by being left out of Chelsea's FA Cup defeat at Barnsley following another twinge.

But he is back in training, in contention to play against Derby and - with just over a week to go until Capello names his initial squad to face France in a friendly on 26 March - is determined to return to the international fold.

"After my last game my leg was a bit tight and it was decided not to risk it at Barnsley in case I injured it again and had another six weeks out, which would have been very soul destroying," he said.

"But right now I feel good. I've been training over the last two days and I'm feeling strong for the games coming up. It's a big match against France and I would love to be there.

"I'm very determined to be part of the new England. When a new manager comes in you want to show what you can do and it's been frustrating to be injured at the start."

Lampard is hopeful his recent performances will encourage Capello to play him in Paris and believes, putting injuries aside, he is in the form of his life.

"It's probably been some of the best form of my career. Unfortunately it's been broken up by injuries, which is frustrating. I've missed games but hopefully I'll be fresh and hungry for the last part of the season."

Lampard is not the only Chelsea player to have missed out on the Capello revolution so far. His club-mate Terry is also waiting for a call-up after missing the Switzerland game with a broken foot.

And the centre-half faces an additional challenge to retain the England captaincy after Capello insisted he would consider several candidates before naming a permanent skipper ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in September.

Lampard said: "It's one person's decision as to who is made captain but John is the best skipper I've worked with - and I've played under Marcel Desailly, who was unbelievable.

"John is a monster of a captain. He plays with the attitude you want your captain to have and off the pitch he gets people together and is a big personality in the dressing room. So I can only give him a huge reference."

It is possibly the most ringing endorsement Terry is likely to receive but both players know there are no guarantees for England's biggest names under Capello.

"That's the way it should be," said Lampard. "It doesn't matter who you are, it's about how you are playing at the time and what you can give the team."

That rule clearly applies to David Beckham - a lack of match fitness meant he was left out of the Switzerland squad despite being on 99 caps - and to Michael Owen, who sat on the bench at Wembley despite his record of 40 goals in 88 internationals.

But, like himself and Terry, Lampard believes the duo have the spirit to force their way back into Capello's plans.

"If he's playing then we know the qualities that David possesses," said Lampard at a www.sponsoredbyyou.com school visit organised by England team sponsor Nationwide. "The manager has shown he will pick the best players at the time for each squad and David Beckham has certainly got the capability to be in there. As for Michael, if he performs at a high level there's no reason why he won't play."

Whatever happens, Lampard has been encouraged by Capello's input so far.

"I saw good signs against Switzerland," he said. "It's realistic to talk about wanting to win something in the future. We have some fantastic talent but we haven't performed as a group. We've lacked something.

"Maybe we've lacked belief in ourselves. It's important now that we believe in ourselves again."