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Gerrard reveals England fitness problems

25/09/2005

Steven Gerrard has admitted that his performances for England so far this season have been hampered by injury.

And the Liverpool midfielder has revealed that he was not fully-fit for England's World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Northern Ireland earlier this month.

The European Cup winner was suffering from a calf injury prior to the games and claims that the injury prevented him from being at his sharpest.

"I suffered in the two England games because I wasn't 100 per cent fit," he said.

"My performances against Wales and Northern Ireland were not good enough. Now I am 100 per cent - I can feel the sharpness coming back. I feel good.

"If they had come two or three weeks later and I could have got some training under my belt you would have seen a better Steven Gerrard."

Gerrard was a peripheral figure as England slumped to defeat in Belfast and has failed to score for Liverpool since the start of the Premiership season.

However, he remains confident that he will put in a stronger performance in England's upcoming qualifiers against Austria and Poland next month.

"Hopefully, I'll get the chance to play in the games coming up with Austria and Poland at Old Trafford and will be 100 per cent fit," he added.

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