Lampard backs Terry

9:14am Tuesday 25th March 2008

FRANK Lampard has thrown his support behind Chelsea teammate John Terrys candidacy for the England captaincy.

The 29-year-old midfielder insists Terry is a monster of a captain and believes the centrehalf has proved his qualities with the armband for both club and country.

The manager (Fabio Capello) will pick who he thinks is the best, Lampard said ahead of tomorrows friendly in France.

All I can say is that John Terry, on and off the pitch, is a monster of a captain.

On the pitch he plays with the attitude that you want your captain to have. He talks to people around him.

Off the pitch he gets people together and is a big personality in the dressing room.

I can only give him a huge reference in those terms.

ö England goalkeeper David James admitted players have a responsibility to act as proper role models to try to help shape the next generation.

The Football Association recently launched a new RESPECT initiative aimed at improving the conduct towards match officials, which is being piloted at the grassroots level.

New FA chairman Lord Triesman is set to push forward with the concept, which he hopes will eventually be adopted by the professional game.

However, no sooner had the scheme been launched than there were two high-profile examples of questionable behaviour from Premier League stars.

Chelsea defender Ashley Cole showed disdain to the referee when being cautioned by Mike Riley against Tottenham, and Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano was sent off after arguing with match official Steve Bennett at Old Trafford.

Portsmouth keeper James, 37, in line to add to his 36 caps during the friendly against France in Paris, accepts players have to do what they can to ensure youngsters get the right message from their sporting idols.

It is very important, but it is also very complex, James said.

We have situations where we as internationals, in the Premier League or any professional footballer in the game who appears on TV C we are all role models.

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