Lampard's England career 'is over': Wilshere is now Capello's main man

By Mark Ryan
Updated: 18:06 EDT, 30 July 2011

Frank Lampard’s career as a first-choice England midfielder is finally over.

The 33-year-old Chelsea star, capped 86 times, will still be called into the squad for England’s friendly against Holland on August 10.

Yet the Mail on Sunday understands that only injuries to Jack Wilshere or Scott Parker would allow Lampard into England’s starting line-up again.

On the way out: Frank Lampard is no longer considered a first-team player for England, injuries permitting

Although England manager Fabio Capello will continue to sing Lampard’s praises in public, the Italian feels that the player fails to bring out the best in Wilshere, 19, who is now regarded as England’s key midfielder.

So despite the absence of Steven Gerrard with a persistent groin injury, Lampard is set to warm the bench against the Dutch.

For years, England managers wrestled with the problem of how to play Lampard and Liverpool star Gerrard in the same midfield.

But now England’s future is all about Arsenal’s Wilshere, capped just five times.

The future: Jack Wilshere has been earmarked as England's midfield fulcrum

And even though Parker, like Lampard, is the wrong side of 30, it is felt that he combines better with the increasingly influential teenager and is also judged to cover better when his younger midfield partner bursts forward.

Lampard was substituted despite scoring for England against Switzerland last month. His replacement that day, Ashley Young, is also now regarded as more important to England’s hopes of Euro 2012 success.

Though Young may start on England’s left in the new look line-up, Capello wants him to operate in the space behind the front men in future.

Again, that reduces Lampard’s chances of making an impact, since he often likes to attack from midfield into the areas Young will be encouraged to occupy.

Finding his feet: Scott Parker (left) will get the nod from Capello

There is always the possibility that a lack of peak fitness in others will allow Lampard back into England’s starting XI before the curtain is brought down on his international career for good.

But he is now on his way out, as Capello looks to emerging talents like Wilshere and Manchester United defender Phil Jones, who is set to make his senior debut next month.

The former Blackburn centre-half, signed from Blackburn by United for £16m last month, will be called into the full squad for the Holland game.

Jones, 19, was outstanding in an otherwise disappointing campaign by Stuart Pearce’s team in the European Under-21 Championship.

Key man: Wilshere takes orders from Capello

Capello will select Jones ahead of his United colleague Chris Smalling.

While Smalling is not yet regarded as comfortable with the ball at his feet, Jones is considered to have the all-round game to withstand the pressures of senior international football.

Capello wants to give Jones a taste of the set-up with a view to him forming a central defensive partnership with Michael Dawson or Phil Jagielka in future.