England coach Roy Hodgson insists Chelsea veteran Frank Lampard can make the 2014 World Cup.

Whilst Hodgson is anxious to stress he is picking teams to win matches rather than as a long-term building process for Brazil, his past experience means he will never discard anyone on the grounds of what it says on their birth certificate.

"I remember having Jari Litmanen and Sami Hyypia with Finland, one was 38, the other 34, playing in a side whose average age was around 31," he said.

"Sami was a very similar player at 34 to when he was 19.

"Frank is a very fit lad.

"He is one of those players who plays a lot of matches one after another without injury.

"I am rather hoping he will keep fit, playing well and first of all helps us get to Brazil and then be a contender.

"It is not something that concerns me at this moment in time.

"It might if we qualify and either he is not playing well or showing signs of being past it."