24 train, Lamps looking bright

  • Tuesday, 11 February, 2003
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England arrived at Upton Park for training this morning with twenty-four of Sven

England arrived at Upton Park for training this morning with twenty-four of Sven's twenty-seven involved.

The three not out on the pitch first thing, Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes and Ashley Cole, were away with Gary Lewin for a light session.

The coaching team now have an opportunity to assess the players' fitness before Sven names his line-up exclusively on TheFA.com tomorrow evening.

Midfielder Lampard, who rested yesterday, has been suberb for Chelsea of late and his performances have earned him the call from Sven, and he says that his form on the pitch is thanks to his settled life off it.

"I've learnt things along the way and I am very settled in my home life at the moment," he said.

"That helps and it shows on the pitch. I was always single at West Ham but now I live with my girlfriend Elen so maybe my lifestyle has changed.

"I think it does help that I live with her - I have also got a dog called Reggie at home so I spend a lot of time with him.

"It's always drummed into you at Chelsea that you should live right, eat the right things and train hard. And I am lucky my dad has taught me that since I was young."

And Lampard understands the attitude of his name-sake, Australia coach Frank Farina, as his side go into the game treating it like a competitive match, and the former West Ham man, back at his old stomping ground will be just as determined to win: "If I am included, it won't be a friendly for me because I want to prove something. So Australia's attitude is the right one.

"A lot of their players are at English teams so it's a big game for them and they want to beat the people they play with every week.

"But we are ready for that and there is a lot of determination in the squad. A lot of our players have friends in their team and that makes it even more competitive."


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