Alan Shearer says that Steven Gerrard's disappointing end to the season will not affect his World Cup preparation or performance in any way, shape or form.
Gerrard saw his Liverpool side narrowly miss out on the Premier League title to newly crowed champions Manchester City, having topped the table going into the last few weeks of the campaign.
However, in an exclusive interview with TheFA.com, the former England captain was insistent the current incumbent has the strength of character to move on quickly.
"The last couple of weeks won’t affect him in the slightest," said Shearer.
"Whoever is in the 23 will - and should - be good enough to handle whatever is thrown at them.
Shearer says he is certain England captain Steven Gerrard can 'cope with anything'
"With Steven, you can throw whatever you like at him and he would be able to handle it and still be one of the very top players."
Shearer, who represented England at three major tournaments including the 1998 World Cup in France, also said that while the period ahead of Roy Hodgson's squad announcement on Monday will be a nervous time for a few - most will be eagerly anticipating it and eager for the tournament to get under way.
"The vast majority will know that they’re in the squad," he added.
"I think there are probably only one or two that might be fretting over places but a large number will know that they’re already in and they’ll be looking forward to the season ending and just getting started.
"There’s been so much talk – and there always is – that you just can’t wait to get there and get it all going."
After Roy Hodgson names his provisional squad, the team then head to Portugal for a training camp, before returning to England to face Peru at Wembley on 30 May.
The group will then travel on to Miami to take on Honduras and Ecuador, before moving to their base in Rio de Janeiro - and finally to Manaus in the north-west of the country to get their World Cup campaign underway against Italy on 14 June.
Shearer represented England at three major tournaments including Euro 96
And Shearer said the experience those selected are in for will be something they cherish for the rest of their lives.
"It’s just an overwhelming feeling of excitement," he added.
"The whole country gets involved and it’s all over the television and the front and back pages of the newspaper - but as you’re climbing the steps and getting on that plane then the talking stops and it’s time to go to work and try and deliver.
"Everybody who is in love with the game has dreamt of going to the World Cup so when you’re one of the few that get the opportunity, the big feeling is just to go there and make sure you do yourself justice."
And what he would consider to be a successful World Cup for Roy Hodgson's men? Shearer was pragmatic in his response and said the most important thing would be that you leave Brazil with no regrets.
"I’d just like us to go there and give it a really good go," he said.
"If we see some progression, some improvement, maybe one or two youngsters coming through and performing that we haven’t seen in an England shirt at a major tournament before, then that would be fantastic.
"But the main thing is that as long as you come away from a tournament knowing you’ve given your very best, and you couldn’t give anymore then nobody can ask any more of you as an England player than that – and that’s the most important thing."
