Lampard reaffirms credentials for England inclusion
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Your support makes all the difference.The Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard is urging Sven Goran Eriksson to give him a chance in England's friendly against Australia at Upton Park next month so he can show West Ham fans how much he has improved since heading to west London.
Lampard, who moved to Stamford Bridge for £11million in 2001, has won back a regular place in the England squad with a string of impressive displays for Chelsea after missing out on the World Cup. However he is now hoping to break into the national side, with the 12 February friendly against Australia as his first target.
"I certainly know my way around Upton Park," Lampard said, "and although I don't know what sort of reception I'd get, it would be great to go back and play in the team and show the West Ham fans how much I've come on.
"If you'd asked me a year ago after I'd played well, I might have said that I wanted to be in the England squad. These days, I've moved on and I'm determined to push for the team.
"Obviously it's hard as Paul Scholes is one of the best midfielders in the world and Steven Gerrard is a fantastic player, but if I keep on doing the best I can, then why not be in there and challenging them?"
Lampard has won just seven England caps, two of them in the starting line-up, including the friendly against Italy just before the World Cup. However, his subsequent exclusion from the squad for the finals has given the 24-year-old added incentive to perform for his club.
Ever since, Lampard has been at the centre of Chelsea's midfield, with his superb display against Leeds on Tuesday earning glowing praise from Claudio Ranieri. The Chelsea manager called Lampard a "complete midfielder" and urged Eriksson to make him an England regular.
Lampard responded: "My level of confidence has now changed. I feel I've learned a lot since I've been here and I think I'm ready for the England team.
"I've taken the game by the scruff of the neck for Chelsea and that's what I would aim to do if I got involved with England now. I heard Sven left with 15 minutes to go, so I think my dad will be sending him a video!
"The manager showed great confidence in me to buy me for all that money," Lampard added, "and he's developed my all-round game. You can also learn off the experience of Gianfranco Zola, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Marcel Desailly. But I've taken it upon myself to take hold of games. Maybe that's where I've improved.
"I'm settled in my life now, living with my girlfriend. I think that shows on the pitch too."
Lampard has added facets to his game, complementing attacking charges with controlling midfield and provide his team's forward momentum.
"I've improved all-round since I've been here. Maybe I don't run forward as much as I used to when I was at West Ham but that's because I've become more aware of other sides of my game, such as getting on the ball and driving the team forward."
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