IF THERE IS ONE THING guaranteed to rouse Frank Lampard from his usual serenity, it is the lingering suggestion that he and Steven Gerrard are incompatible, whether professionally or personally. It is a common perception that while the pair are undoubtedly the most accomplished English midfield players of their generation, their partnership has been shackled by compromise.

It is a notion that causes Lampard to approach annoyance. “I do really,” he said. “I get fed up with it, but I guess it’s part and parcel of playing for England. We believe we can play together. I don’t know how the manager is going to put us together; whether it be as a two, part of a three, or one more forward than the other, we both want to get the best out of each other.”

Gossip that the pair are not bosom-buddies is disputed. “We speak often,” the Chelsea man said. “We get on well now and even more so as time progresses. We’ve played quite a lot together now and are pretty good mates. When we meet up we want to talk.”

Yet Lampard accepts that both he and Gerrard are best suited to aggressive roles. The Liverpool captain has traditionally been the one required to hang back or even move wide and there is recognition that neither can be the fulcrum of the England side, as they are for their clubs. The solution has evaded Sven-Göran Eriksson thus far.

In this week’s warm-up fixtures against Hungary and Jamaica, the Swede has promised to select the XI that, all things being equal, will start the World Cup. In the absence of Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch will be alongside Michael Owen, with Gerrard and Lampard supported wide by David Beckham and Joe Cole.

“I think our real strengths are going forward and making and scoring goals,” Lampard said, “but we also have the capability to defend. I always try to do that whoever I’m playing for. If Wayne isn’t fit, it might give both of us the opportunity to push up. It really does depend on how we play. A holding midfielder would give us the insurance to get forward, but it’s up to the manager to decide.”