Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard wants to be able to choose his England games this season.

The People says Gerrard will ask boss Roy Hodgson, the man who handed him the armband, to spare him from some of the more meaningless international fixtures.

Liverpool skipper Gerrard has no intention of turning his back on his country, with the World Cup qualifying campaign for Brazil 2014 coming up.

But he will plead to be rested for friendly internationals, starting with the game against Euro 2012 conquerors Italy in Switzerland on August 15 and probably against Sweden in Stockholm in mid-November.