England midfielder Frank Lampard will certainly miss his country's crucial Euro 2008 clash against Israel on Saturday, but he is pushing for an appearance against Russia in midweek. England boss Steve McClaren confirmed that the Chelsea playmaker has returned to his club for further treatment, in an attempt to have him fit for the Russia game. "Frank is having intensive treatment with Chelsea and we have said he might have a chance of playing in the second game," McClaren told a news conference. "It is still a far-out possibility at this moment but he is doing everything he can to be available." On the other hand, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is still recovering from a fractured toe, which he sustained in Liverpool's 1-0 win over Toulouse last month.
Gerrard has a fractured toe McClaren could be forced to jab the 27-year old despite the fact that Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez warned against it, claiming that it took 'four or five days' to get over the injection he had against Chelsea three weeks ago. "We're leaving it as late as possible but we want Steven on the field and we want him ready to play," the England coach said. "We will liaise with Liverpool and we will do nothing to put the player at risk. But we will also go a lot on how Steven feels and what he wants, You look and in some cases, if there's no great risk, then fine." "Steven played with an injection against Chelsea a few weeks ago and I am very, very confident he will be with us on Saturday." England are currently fourth behind Croatia, Israel and Russia in Group E, and the Three Lions are in a must-win situation in their clash against the latter duo.
