Lampard vows to make fans proud of England

Frank Lampard today declared that Fabio Capello's team were determined to win back the confidence of the nation as he talked of his excitement about the new-look England.

And as Capello was pondering the idea of all-out attack against Kazakhstan tomorrow, the Chelsea star reckoned he was going into the first-ever World Cup match at the new Wembley on the back of some of the best football of his career.

On the eve of the first qualifier since England's extraordinary victory in Croatia, Lampard told Standard Sport that he felt buoyed by the brilliant start he has had to the season for both club and country.

"Even after Croatia, we know there's a long way to go for us to get back to where we want to be and we want to get the public confidence in us where it could and should be, starting on Saturday," said Lampard.

"Zagreb was a very good night for everyone - people weren't expecting us to win but we went and produced one of our best nights in an England shirt - but though it was really encouraging, it remains only a start. We've really got to build on that and so it's down to us now to take it on, hopefully starting with an impressive performance against Kazakhstan."

Capello, while keeping his cards close to his chest as usual, has been experimenting with various formations in practice, including a 4-3-3 line-up with Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry in midfield, thus hinting at a potentially attacking approach against Kazakhstan.

Whether the long-misfiring partnership with Gerrard is tried again tomorrow, Lampard's starting place seems assured given his outstanding recent form.

"Everyone has their good and not-so good periods during their career but this is up with the best periods and it's important now for me to sustain it," said Lampard. "It's relatively early season but I feel I'm playing as well, maybe a bit better, than I have done and hopefully I can get better still."

England's qualification bid was also boosted today when Belarus' captain and best player Aleksandr Hleb was ruled out of Wednesday's clash in Minsk.

Former Arsenal midfielder Hleb had hoped to recover from an ankle injury sustained with his club Barcelona but has now pulled out of the squad.