It doesn’t matter which formation Sven-Goran Eriksson uses in Portugal this summer – Steve Gerrard is the one player whose versatility can make them all work.

Gerrard has that rare quality of being good enough at international level to be pushed forward or used in the holding role.

There is a lot of talk about different systems, from 4-4-2 to five in midfield or a diamond formation with a holding midfield player.

I think Sven may be flexible and use different systems for different games. That’s when he will appreciate having Stevie G in his squad.

Take the diamond formation which requires someone disciplined and experienced at the bottom to protect the defence.

I am not normally a fan because it invites the opposition onto you. But I can see Sven wanting to play it against France to deny the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry space.

But if you are going to play that way, Gerrard is the best choice.

Nicky Butt had a great World Cup but his form has been mixed for Manchester United and when you go to a major tournament, you need people who are playing regularly and playing well. The same goes for Phil Neville, I can see him doing a man-marking job but not offering much more.

I see Scott Parker as more effective knitting play together and I don’t think a holding role is the best position for Owen Hargreaves either. That leaves Gerrard – who is different class to the other contenders.

Personally, I would prefer England to play a 4-4-2 with Gerrard pushing forward when he can. He is best when he gets in the areas where he can punish people.

If you are playing the likes of Switzerland or Croatia, Sven might not feel the need for an out-and-out holding player.

In a straight 4-4-2. Paul Scholes could play on the left-hand side and Frank Lampard, who has had an excellent season, would be in the middle with Gerrard.

There would be no point in my view to tell either Frank or Steve to sit back all the time. Nobody at Liverpool said to myself or Ronnie Whelan, ‘tonight lads, you are the holding midfield player’. It is common sense; if Ronnie bombed forward I would sit back and protect. And vice-versa if I broke forward.

Instead of restricting Frank or Steve, you would want them to make sure they worked as a pair so if one of them went forward, we weren’t over-exposed to the breakaway.