Ranieri: Frank's simply the best

Claudio Ranieri today hailed Frank Lampard as the best midfield player in England.

The Chelsea coach described the performances this season of the 25-year-old, who scored a brace in his side's 3-2 win at Blackburn yesterday, as "unbelievable".

Lampard's first half double and a magnificent last-minute strike by Glen Johnson helped Chelsea to a dramatic eighth win in 12 Premiership matches away from home this season and kept them six points behind leaders Arsenal at the top of the Premiership.

Asked if Lampard was the best midfield player in the country, Ranieri replied: "I think so. I'm very pleased with him. In this league, it's amazing.

"He's a strong midfielder, quality, long passing, good vision, strong in the tackle. Now, I think he has scored 10 goals. That's unbelievable, very, very good."

Lampard yesterday joined Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Hernan Crespo as Chelsea's equal leading scorers in the Premiership this season with seven goals.

He has scored 10 in all competitions. But it is the consistent all-round play of Lampard, the only Chelsea player to start all 23 Premiership games this season, which has made him one of the first names on Ranieri's team-sheet.

With David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes certainties for three of the four England midfield positions in Euro 2004 if they remain fit, the continued absence of Nicky Butt from the Manchester United first team means the other place is up for grabs.

And Ranieri believes Lampard has done enough to earn a place in the first choice lineup of England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

He said: "I'm not Eriksson, but Frank's in very, very good form. I think he deserves to play because he's complete, he can do everything."