By Gareth McKnight
Roy Hodgson has confirmed that Frank Lampard will captain England against Italy on Wednesday night.
The Chelsea midfielder missed the Three Lions’ Euro 2012 campaign due to injury, but has been recalled for the midweek friendly against the Azzurri in Berne.
With Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, John Terry and other senior figures rested for the fixture, Hodgson is glad to have Lampard back in contention.
“We missed him during the Euros. If you have players of Frank Lampard’s quality, it is a great pity if they are injured,” the coach told Sky Sports.
“We had the same situation with Gareth Barry
so we lost two very important members of our central midfield just before we travelled to Poland.
“But at least now Frank is back, and now we have the added bonus that Michael Carrick, who was not available for the Euros because we were told not to consider him, luckily he has reconsidered and I have got yet another quality player,” he concluded.
