England’s nerveless newcomers make impression on Lampard

Lampard feels there is now more accent on youth being given its chance on the senior stage by head coach Roy Hodgson.

The Chelsea midfielder is impressed with the free-spirited way the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Tom Cleverley have adapted to playing for their country.

Lampard also points to a freshness about the squad thanks to the young blood being mixed with the core of experienced players ahead of tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier with Ukraine at Wembley.

He said: “I have certainly noticed that younger players are getting more of a chance compared to when I first got in the squad.

“Maybe there was a case then of going with the tried and trusted and that is understandable because results are at a premium for England managers.

“I think we have a crop of players now who play with less fear than we did when we came through.

“Even though Tom Cleverley has not played many games, the games he has played are with Manchester United in the Champions League and Team GB at the Olympics.

“It means players such as Tom and Alex are much more capable on arriving on the scene at such a young age.

“The good thing about those two is they are good players but they take it very easily and don’t seem fazed at all. They are very confident without being bullish or arrogant about it.

“We have talked about it before but confidence is such a huge part of the game and when your confidence is down as a team and an individual, you can’t play at your top level.

“We all know you are in the spotlight when you play for your country and there are going to be times when you have ups and downs. That is natural.”

Lampard admits to enjoying mixing with the younger brigade of players.

He said: “I know it is commonly said that this is the best spirit we have had, but there is a nice freshness about the young boys at meal times and around the hotel.

“I actually enjoy mixing with them, it makes me feel a bit younger when you mix together.

“There is a relationship between that good atmosphere at meal times and going on the pitch and the more we can improve that, the better.

“The young players always give that free-spirited attitude which is nice as well.

“When you have been there a long time...cynical is not the right word, but you know the ups and downs of it. These boys are playing for fun.”

Lampard is back at the forefront of England’s plans at the age of 34 but happy to pass on advice to the crop of emerging talent.

He said: “I do have little words when I can, like with Oxlade-Chamberlain, particularly in the build-up to a game.

“In the warm-up on the pitch the other night in Moldova, you’d say things to them and I would happily sit and talk at dinner about the ups and downs and the good and bad sides of playing for England.

“I was actually saying, first and foremost, to keep running at his full-back because I knew he had the pace and power to get behind and then, when he beat him, to look for me on the cut-back.”

John Terry has been ruled out tomorrow due to the ankle injury suffered during Friday night’s 5-0 win in Moldova. He had treatment on Saturday after returning to England but it has been decided, a Football Association spokesman said, that Terry will not recover sufficiently in time to face the Ukrainians tomorrow.

Gary Cahill is likely to replace Terry and partner Joleon Lescott at centre-back in the second qualifying match of the campaign.

It would be Cahill’s first appearance at Wembley since he suffered the broken jaw against Belgium which ruled him out of Euro 2012.

Former Sheffield United defender Phil Jagielka, who partnered Lescott when they were team-mates at Everton, is the other player in contention. Terry was one of England’s most consistent performers at the European Championship and helped his country overcome Ukraine in a group encounter.

Left-back Ashley Cole had already been ruled out tomorrow with the ankle injury which prevented him from playing in Chisinau and remains on 98 caps.

But Leighton Baines proved a capable deputy against Moldova and scored England’s final goal in the emphatic win.