Frank Lampard says England need to show their professionalism during double-header

Frank Lampard knows England need to be at their most focused over the next week as they face two crucial World Cup qualifiers.

The Three Lions play San Marino on Friday before heading to Podgorica to tackle table-topping Montenegro four days later.

And the Chelsea midfielder says that with most people's eyes on next Tuesday’s game, the first match against San Marino can’t be over-looked despite their low ranking.

He said: “We have to be professional against San Marino, it’s a game we have to win and if you do, you don’t take much credit for it.

“You’re expected to win so you have to be professional and if we go about our job in the right way, our quality in our team will help us to get the right result.

“But San Marino is a game that we are expected to win and we have to win, so we have to do our job there.”

Lampard, with 94 caps to his name, was involved in England’s last trip to Montenegro in October 2011.

Goals from Ashley Young and Darren Bent put England in control of that Euro qualifier, but a second-half comeback from the hosts saw the game end 2-2 and Fabio Capello's team down to ten men following Wayne Rooney's red card.

And the 34-year-old knows what England can expect when they play at the same venue next Tuesday.

He added: “We know how tough a game that is from our last game out there.

“Montenegro are top of the group and we’re in second place so we know that a win could be an imperative result for us.

“It’s the Manager’s prerogative as to whether he rests players on Friday or not. We’ll have to see how things go over the next few days.

“But it’s nice to come away with England, I still appreciate playing for my country and I enjoy playing.”