Committed: Joleon Lescott is expected to line up alongside John Terry

'That's the blow and that's the price you pay for these warm-up games.

'To do well in these tournaments you have to have your big players and to lose Gary is another huge blow on the back of Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry.

'His performances in the last six months have been colossal and he was a colossus in the Champions League final win. We needed him.'

As regards Mertens' challenge, Gerrard said: 'I don't think you can blame the guy because he was itching to score a goal.

'Maybe he got carried away but I don't think you can put any blame on the kid. But it is a massive blow for us.'

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