Ballack: Lay Off Lampard!

Lampard's outstanding efforts in the Premier League have kept him entrenched in the pundits' good books, as he has been central to Chelsea's table-topping exploits.

However, it remains to be seen whether this form will be translated to the international stage when England take on Germany in Wednesday's friendly fixture.

The 30-year-old midfield man was very solid during England's impressive opening to World Cup qualifying, but the jury is still out as far as the fans are concerned.

Ballack will be captaining Die Mannschaft in Berlin, and he has warned the Three Lions' followers that booing Lampard will only damage his self-esteem.

“Frank always gives his all,” he told the News of the World. “He wants to play well for England and would like it if they accepted him and loved him a bit more.

“But that doesn’t seem the case. If people are having a go at you for no apparent reason then that doesn’t help your confidence.

“You can have as much mental strength as possible but having the support of the fans is a big part of your game. You need to feel wanted and accepted.

“Frank is a big player for Chelsea and the same should apply to England.”

Cecil Braun