FABIO CAPELLO has not written off Frank Lampard as an England player.
Lamps was dropped for the first time in four years for the 3-0 win in Bulgaria on Friday night.
And the feeling was that, at the age of 33, the Chelsea midfield star might never start another game for his country.
But the word from inside the England camp over the weekend was that Lamps' attitude had been first-class and he is being considered as a possible starter against Wales at Wembley tomorrow night.
Capello has twice watched the DVD of Wales' victory over Montenegro and will assess his team based on where he believes the opposition's weaknesses are.
The Italian boss also wants to check on the fitness levels of all his squad sinc
e the game.
He believes it takes a player like Lampard longer than the younger ones to be fully up and running at the start of a season.
But he put him on as a late sub in Sofia because he believed he was the right man for the job at the time — not out of sentiment.
England insiders say that far from sulking, Lampard has been thoroughly professional.
And they point to the fact Gareth Barry was written off as an England first-choice at the turn of the year and he is back in the team and playing well.
Two-goal hero Wayne Rooney is expected to recover from the bruised toe he suffered in Bulgaria to take his place in the side against the Welsh.
Lamps was dropped for the first time in four years for the 3-0 win in Bulgaria on Friday night.
And the feeling was that, at the age of 33, the Chelsea midfield star might never start another game for his country.But the word from inside the England camp over the weekend was that Lamps' attitude had been first-class and he is being considered as a possible starter against Wales at Wembley tomorrow night.
Capello has twice watched the DVD of Wales' victory over Montenegro and will assess his team based on where he believes the opposition's weaknesses are.
The Italian boss also wants to check on the fitness levels of all his squad sinc
e the game.
He believes it takes a player like Lampard longer than the younger ones to be fully up and running at the start of a season.
But he put him on as a late sub in Sofia because he believed he was the right man for the job at the time — not out of sentiment.
England insiders say that far from sulking, Lampard has been thoroughly professional.
And they point to the fact Gareth Barry was written off as an England first-choice at the turn of the year and he is back in the team and playing well.
Two-goal hero Wayne Rooney is expected to recover from the bruised toe he suffered in Bulgaria to take his place in the side against the Welsh.
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