Chelsea captain John Terry was influential in the FA's decision to rip up the Wembley pitch last week.

The Sunday Mirror says the England skipper was seen fuming at the state of the playing surface at the national stadium after he led Chelsea to an FA Cup semi-final win over Arsenal eight days ago.

Such was his dismay, Terry made his feelings known to a member of the FA player liaison staff and the skipper's concerns were then passed on to the Soho Square hierarchy.

Terry's concern did not just involve his club.

England have vital World Cup qualifiers in the next six months and he clearly felt the sub-standard pitch could be an advantage to the opposition.

England should see off Andorra in June, but the more taxing tests will come against Croatia and Belarus.

Terry wants nothing to sabotage the national squad's chances of reaching next summer's finals in South Africa.