Gerrard blasts 'mad' schedule

Steven Gerrard, who is set to join Liverpool's preseason training camp in Switzerland this week, today criticised the "madness" of England's international schedule which has meant only a brief break from playing.

Gerrard, who was part of Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad that played friendlies against South Africa and Serbia-Montenegro and a Euro 2004 qualifier against Slovakia at the end of a tiring season, told Football 365: "I've not had as much time off as I would have liked because of England.

"I'm not complaining because I love playing for the national side but the madness of playing after a long hard season was difficult to understand. I don't think anyone agreed with that.

"Of course, you come away from it all and you're drained but you can't lose sight of the fact that the season comes round so quickly."

Some England players, including Everton's Wayne Rooney, are getting extra time off but Gerrard will start his training in Switzerland tomorrow ahead of Liverpool's first pre-season friendly against FC Cologne on Wednesday 16 July.

He said: "I don't want to take extra time off because I will be catching everyone else up with my fitness. I just have to take it on the chin and get on with it."