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Rio backing the Gerrard-Lampard partnership

Rio Ferdinand is backing Frank Lampard to team up with Steven Gerrard © Getty Images

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England captain Rio Ferdinand believes Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard can form an effective central midfield partnership, and insisted that he would have no problem with the pair starting there together in South Africa.

Fabio Capello has continued where former England boss Steve McClaren left off in using Gareth Barry to provide balance in the centre of the park, with the Italian favouring Lampard as his partner, and Gerrard used chiefly on the left.

But Barry's injury ahead of the World Cup finals has reopened the debate about who should play in central midfield - with Lampard seemingly guaranteed his place there after a sensational season for Chelsea.

Gerrard moved into central midfield when he came on against Japan in England's last warm-up game, and also played there for a spell against Mexico, on both occasions providing an effective outlet in a position that he loves to play.

Capello has played Gerrad and Lampard together infrequently, but Ferdinand believes if the pair were put together in central midfield for the World Cup, England would be a dangerous force.

"I have never had any doubt they could play together," Ferdinand said. "They both did it against Japan. It worked well and we looked very dangerous.

"Whether it is just down to those two or whether other players have to do stuff I don't know, but good players can play anywhere and with anyone.

"We have seen that in the past. It is the same with them. Will the manager play them together? We will just have to wait and see, but it wouldn't be a problem if he did that against the United States."

And Capello has revealed on several occasions that he is optimistic the two can function together if required to.

"A good player can play in different positions,'' he said. "Frank and Steve are used to going forward always because they have one holding player [alongside them].

"If they play together, one will have to stay in different moments as a holding player. If Steve goes forward then Lampard stays and different moments Steve has to stay."

And Lampard himself is also confident that an effective partnership can be formed.

"Stevie is a great player and it is a pleasure to play with him anyway, and in the second half we did pretty well, so hopefully we can work on that in some way, shape or form," Lampard said after the Japan game.

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