Eriksson set to reward Lampard for his sparkling Chelsea form

FRANK LAMPARD is to be given a chance this weekend to force his way into Sven-Goran Eriksson’s starting XI as Chelsea’s England quintet make their influence felt.

Whereas the Blues became the first club to field an entirely overseas Premiership side, under Gianluca Vialli, they have now provided five members of the latest England squad.

Indeed, this is the largest contingent from a single club in a squad formerly dominated by Manchester United and Liverpool as Claudio Ranieri makes good on his promised English backbone for his overseas talent.

Along with Lampard in the squad for Sunday’s friendly against Denmark at Old Trafford are Joe Cole, Wayne Bridge, John Terry and Glen Johnson.

Johnson, uncapped, may not start and Bridge has so far been Ashley Cole’s deputy at left-back, but Cole seems earmarked for an experiment as a split-striker at some stage.