LIVERPOOL'S thoroughbred is no longer wasted as England's workhorse. Steven Gerrard has spent most of his career as the heartbeat of Anfield but frustratingly limited to being the lungs for his country.
England finally have a coach who recognises Gerrard's capacity to influence his country in the same way his dynamism inspires his club.
Seeing him dispatched to the left makes it easy to dismiss his role as little more than a trapeze artist, a player providing balance in an otherwise limited team. Under the rigid formations of Sven Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren, such concerns were justified.They were either unwilling or unable to find the position for Gerrard to thrive, or to bring the best out of those around him.
Forget that under Capello. There's a fluidity about the system under the Italian, ensuring Gerrard should no longer feel stifled by a seemingly unfamiliar position. In keeping with the retro style of England's new shirts, Gerrard is best described as an 'inside left' rather than a left midfielder.
