John Terry launched a passionate defence of his commitment to the England team yesterday and insisted that his injury problems are a thing of the past. The Chelsea captain was forced to pull out of the World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Belarus this month because of a back injury, leading to criticism.

If anything, Terry may have been too committed in the past, repeatedly playing through the pain barrier when other professionals might have rested, as was shown on Saturday when he returned for Chelsea’s 5-0 win away to Middlesbrough. Fabio Capello, the England manager, was surprised to see Terry in action at the Riverside Stadium because he believed that his captain required further rest before Chelsea’s Champions League match against Roma on Wednesday, but the Italian had no problem with him playing and admires his bravery.

“I wanted to come out here and talk about the so-called injury because I heard the press conference the other day when people were talking about my commitment to England, and asking how I could be not fit on Wednesday but then be fit for Saturday,” Terry said.

“I was gutted to come back from England duty and really frustrated. There were four days when I really should have come back earlier, but I said to the manager and Franco Baldini [the England general manager] that I wanted to give it a real go. Each day I stayed and tried, but it just didn’t get better. I came back to Chelsea and on the Tuesday and Wednesday it still wasn’t right. Even on the Thursday I did some jogging and told the manager it didn’t feel right.

“I came in on Friday morning and it was much better, so I was able to play at Middlesbrough. I’m just disappointed that people in the press and the fans — and some people who’ve known me a long time — have questioned my determination to play for club or country.”

Terry’s appearance record has worsened steadily over the past few years, but he insists that he is 100 per cent fit at present. The 27-year-old undergoes a rigorous stretching regime and has a massage after training every day. He has followed the same programme since he had a back operation two years ago and nothing has been added since he felt stiffness in the Champions League group match against CFR Cluj three weeks ago. “I don’t understand where all this is coming from,” Terry said. “I’m completely fine. There were three or four similar injuries from the Cluj game, which the medical team put down to the pitch. Alex, Deco, Wayne Bridge and Ashley Cole were all struggling, but everyone was referring to my back. I’ve had three or four scans over a two-week period and the back’s in great condition.

“I’m disappointed that people keep questioning me because I think people around me know what I’m like as a player and a character. I was a little bit frustrated in the last couple of days’ training and wanted to put in a good performance against Roma, which fortunately I did.

“But it’s disappointing to work hard my whole career, to not miss any games, and then, as soon as you do, hear people question you. There was no one more gutted than me as England captain to walk away from the squad and see them travel to Belarus.

“I’m passionate about playing for England and it’s the ultimate. England’s far bigger than Chelsea and far bigger than Man United because you’re representing your country. I’ve been criticised in the past for playing when I shouldn’t have played, but as soon as I get a back injury everyone says I’m pulling out of squads.”