Chelsea star Frank Lampard has admitted he is prepared to battle it out for a place in Fabio Capello's England midfield.The Blues midfielder has found himself the target of abuse from a sizeable number of England supporters in recent times and was a member of the side which failed so spectacularly against Crotia back in November.

Despite the criticism and the threat to his place posed by the likes of Owen Hargreaves and Jermaine Jenas, Lampard is refusing to hide from the challenge and is prepared to do his utmost to ensure that he is involved in the new manger's first game in charge against Switzerland on February 6.

"I'm not concerned about it, it's a challenge," Lampard told the Mail on Sunday.

"Other players can come in and put themselves in contention. You shouldn't have it all your own way with England year after year.

"But I enjoy a challenge, the idea of another player coming in and people saying he should play.

"I can come back and show that I should play. That's what I intend to do whoever plays against Switzerland."

Lampard was also keen to play down suggestions that Capello should introduce a complete overhaul of the more experienced members of the squad in favour of introducing the young players of the future.

"We have some good players and there is potential for one or two to come in," he said.

"But if you want to kick the old guard out because we failed to qualify for Euro 2008, you can't point to a lot of others who are ready or better than we've already got here."

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