Steven Gerrard is confident he can recreate his blistering form for England

Steven Gerrard is confident he can recreate his club form for England ahead of the friendly with Slovakia on Saturday and next Wednesday's crucial World Cup qualifying match against Ukraine. The Liverpool captain has scored six goals in the last three games, including a hat-trick against Aston Villa on Sunday.
"I'm on a high," Gerrard said. "Things have been going really well at the club. My last performance for England I was really happy with. I was under a slight pressure before that game to put in a good performance and I thought I delivered that.
"I missed a few games with injury since then but I've found my form quickly after the latest hamstring injury and at the moment I'm full of confidence."
Liverpool narrowed the gap behind leaders Manchester United to one point at the weekend, but Gerrard insists he is totally focused on England and is not thinking about the title race.
"It's easy enough to re-focus," he said. "We're with England now and the big club games will have to wait. Everyone's focused on the job in hand and focused on getting a good win on Saturday and three important points on Wednesday night to go top of the group."
Gerrard also believes Ledley King's withdrawal from England's squad today will not inhibit his chances of further call-ups to the national team.
Fabio Capello, the England manager, sprang a surprise when he named King in his squad as it is well documented the Tottenham defender rarely trains. Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham manager, was critical of the move, suggesting that if the 28-year-old featured against Ukraine he could not be considered for club duty against Blackburn Rovers on April 4.
Today, King has returned to his club without taking any part in England training.
"Ledley is highly thought of by his club and country," Gerrard said. "Both want him fit and ready to play and I'm sorry to see him go home. It would have been nice to have him available, but he is a Tottenham player and you have got to respect whatever decision is made.
"When he is out there he is top drawer. I've been lucky enough to play with him a few times, when he's fit he's as good as anyone.
"I don't know the extent of his injury problem but in terms of ability he is definitely good enough to be in the World Cup squad. We will be keeping our fingers crossed nearer the time that he will be fit and available."

England allow Ledley King to return to Tottenham Hotspur

Ledley King, the Tottenham Hotspur defender, has returned to his club and will play no further part in England’s preparations for Saturday’s friendly match with Slovakia nor the World Cup qualifier against Ukraine.
The move, taken with the full agreement of both the England and Tottenham coaching staff, brings a predictable end to a strange 48 hours for the defender, who is unable to train with his club-mates due to a chronic knee condition.
Fabio Capello sprung a major surprise when he picked King in his 24-man squad and angered the Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, who said if King played against Ukraine he could not be considered for club duty against Blackburn on April 4.
King joined up with the England squad last night, and boarded the team bus that went to training at Arsenal’s London Colney complex this morning, but returned to the England squad’s base in Watford without taking part. "Ledley King has returned to Spurs Lodge to continue his rehabilitation over the course of the international break, following discussions and assessments overnight by the medical staff of the club and the England national team,” an FA statement said. “It has been agreed by both parties that the best interests of the player are served by continuing his individual training programme at the club.''