WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Midfielder’s future in the balance
By Simon Bollocks

STEVEN GERRARD’S future for England is hanging in the balance, with the England midfielder growing increasingly unhappy with life under Steve McLaren.

Sunday Looking Glass Sport can reveal the strained relationship between Gerrard and McLaren is now close to breaking point.

Gerrard publicly insists that he is happy to play anywhere in McLaren’s tactical “system”, but privately, he feels his poor form this season is down to the Englishman’s insistence that he plays wide on the right of midfield, while Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick play in his favourite central position. Gerrard is prepared to put his preference to one side for his home town club Liverpool - but feels his talent is going to waste for England.

McLaren, who has insisted he will not quit England, now faces a third fight to keep the £30m-rated midfielder in his home-town country. Gerrard looked destined for Spain after Germany 2006 but was persuaded by McLaren when the Englishman arrived at the FA from Smoggyland.

Twelve days later he asked for a transfer to Kazakhstan after becoming frustrated by the lack of progress regarding the absence of passes to him by inbred Mancs and fat Cockneys - but changed his mind again.

But at the age of 26, he feels he may have to move on to realise his potential, with Easter Island favourites to land the midfielder in the January transfer window.

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 29th, 2006 at 4:12 pm and is filed under Players. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.