Give Hargreaves a break, Lampard tells critics

England's Owen Hargreaves kicks a ball during a training session at Manchester United's training ground at Carrington, Manchester, United Kingdom, March 2005. Frank Lampard has leapt to the defence of much-maligned England team-mate Owen Hargreaves, insisting the Bayern Munich player is unfairly under-rated.

Frank Lampard has leapt to the defence of much-maligned England team-mate Owen Hargreaves, insisting the Bayern Munich player is unfairly under-rated.

Lampard said much of the criticism directed at Hargreaves was undeserved, and said the Bundesliga-based defensive midfielder was a valued member of England's World Cup squad.

Hargreaves' position in the England squad has come under under scrutiny, with many critics feeling that Sven-Goran Eriksson should have named another striker instead of the 25-year-old.

But Lampard has slammed the back-biting over Hargreaves, who now has 30 caps.

"The criticism Owen gets is unfair," said Lampard. "He is very quick and sharp and as a defensive midfield player at the top level, you need that because you can come up against some top quality players.

"Owen is a good player. He can play with the ball at his feet and he is also able to switch into a number of different positions, so he is a good lad to have in the squad.

"Rather than criticise, we need to back players. We must get behind the whole squad if we are to try to win the World Cup."

Having made 23 of his England appearances from the bench, Hargreaves looks set to find himself in familiar surroundings on Saturday even though Gary Neville is doubtful for the Old Trafford clash with Jamaica.

Jamie Carragher is favoured to step in if Neville does not make it, with Peter Crouch set to be restored up front for England's final outing before they head to Germany and try to emulate the World Cup heroes of 1966.

Lampard meanwhile says he is not bothered at having missed a penalty in the 3-1 win over Hungary earlier this week, and said he had spent an intense session practicing spot-kicks after training on Thursday.

"When you take the responsibility of being a penalty taker, you know there will come a day when you miss one, it is human nature," Lampard said.

"But I will carry on. It takes a strong person to take penalties at the highest level. Some people can't handle it - I believe I can.

"I will just have to concentrate on the next one and make sure I stick it away."