Old-age debate: Lampard insists he can play with Gerrard

'I think, yes,' he said. 'That's the headline straight away! I'm not going to say no and talk myself out of the team. The problem is, for it to be called a successful partnership England need to have a very good run in a big tournament.'

In Chelsea's Champions League run Lampard did display an ability to perform the deeper, more defensive role.

'I've enjoyed the workload, making blocks and tracking back as much as trying to get up and score,' he said.

'If I can find a way of mixing that, if I'm asked to contribute, that's good. 'But I wouldn't want to take away the idea that I can score goals because that's always what I've tried to do. With age and experience you have to change. Whether I'll become a big holding midfield player, I'm not so sure.'

But first there's the issue of today's all-important scan.

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