Lampard can dim penalty pain

AVRAM GRANT has backed captain Frank Lampard to overcome the demons associated with his last visit to Gelsenkirchen as Chelsea look to move closer to qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages with victory over Schalke.

Lampard was among the England players who missed penalties in the World Cup quarter-final shoot-out with Portugal in the Veltins-Arena last year. He, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard all missed their spot-kicks as England crashed out after a goalless draw.

Lampard returns to the scene tonight when he and his Chelsea team-mates will look to put themselves on the brink of qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League. Grant is convinced the midfielder has the bottle to overcome his penalty miss nightmare.