'Tense' Gerrard fears he will lose out to Lampard

He may be regarded as the most talented – and dynamic – player of his generation but Steven Gerrard admitted yesterday that he is fearful for his place in the England team. Such a statement from the Liverpool captain, who is never regarded as laid back, may not be a great surprise but it comes at a time when his role is under scrutiny. That role may change again for tomorrow's World Cup qualifier away to Belarus although it appears that Gerrard is, after all, likely to start even if he may not be allowed to adopt his favoured position as an attacking midfielder in the centre.

No final decision has been taken but despite a disappointing display against Kazakhstan on Saturday, Gerrard could be retained. England have suffered a double injury blow – with both John Terry and Ashley Cole dropping out of the squad – and manager Fabio Capello may consider Gerrard's talent and, as the player himself put it yesterday, being a "big hitter" as vital.

While Terry's continued back problems, which meant he missed Saturday's tie, ruled him out, Cole's withdrawal is more of a surprise. The left-back has, however, suffered a hamstring strain and it is feared that he may be out for two weeks which means he would add to Chelsea's crippling injury list and miss the games against Middlesbrough, at home to Roma in the Champions League and possibly at Stamford Bridge against Liverpool on 26 October. The Football Association has flatly refuted any suggestions that Cole, who underwent a scan on Sunday, may have pulled out because of the booing he suffered on Saturday after making the mistake that gifted the Kazakhs a goal in England's 5-1 victory. "They have no chance of playing, so it is best they return to Chelsea," Capello said of the pair.

Cole's withdrawal offers a chance for his club team-mate Wayne Bridge, who will now be all the more important for Chelsea also, to play – although he may face competition from Joleon Lescott. The Everton defender is also vying with Matthew Upson to partner Rio Ferdinand at centre-half. It means, more than ever, that England need a strong performance from Gerrard. The 28-year-old revealed yesterday, however, that he feels tense when he meets up with the rest of the squad – because of a lack of consistency for his country – and needs to be more "relaxed" as he is at Liverpool. "Of late I have been putting too much pressure on myself," he said.

Gerrard accepts that he may not be allowed to play in his favoured position and that Capello may eventually even see it as a choice between him and Frank Lampard. "If the manager decides to go with Frank and not with me, I will work hard to get back into the team," Gerrard said. "I am sure Frank will do the same. I will be honest and say I have not always hit my Liverpool form for England. It is not through a lack of trying; when I join up I'm desperate to play well for England. I am desperate to be involved in this team. He [Capello] has talked to me before each game and told me what he wants me to do. He has said he wants me to emulate my form for Liverpool and he is prepared to help me.

"That's what I want to hear and I don't want a manager to give up on me whether for Liverpool or England. I have criticism that I have not produced my club form for England and perhaps I do think about it too much. I don't always deliver." Gerrard added of how he has – or has not – gelled with Lampard: "We have both got to keep working hard and try to ensure that it can happen. There is no point giving up on it now. We have a good manager but I think he is going to change personnel, tactics and formations before and during games so I don't think it's always going to be me and Frank there [in the middle of midfield]."

On Saturday Capello started with a 4-3-3, with Gerrard and Lampard either side of Gareth Barry and both in attacking roles. It didn't work and, interestingly, it was Gerrard who was told to hold in midfield when Barry was substituted. "I think I am an attacking midfielder and that's where I play for Liverpool in front of a holding midfielder," he said when asked what he believed was his best position.

"The next challenge is to stay in this starting XI and produce as consistently for England as I do for Liverpool. Everyone is under pressure here. The manager does not announce the team until a couple of hours before kick-off which I think is really healthy. He does not care who the big hitters are."

The FA yesterday released a statement clarifying that it was they – not Capello – who requested that England's potential friendly with Spain be played outside Madrid. "This follows the incidents of racial abuse three years ago," the FA said. "Fabio Capello was not England manager at this time and ... has had no involvement in the choice of venue. The FA is fully aware of the steps that Spanish football has taken to combat racism since England last played there. But it is the FA's view that it is sensible to play at a different venue."

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