England coach Fabio Capello has revealed that neither Frank Lampard nor any other national team regular is guaranteed a place in the starting lineup.
The Chelsea player didn't start in England's Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria on Friday as Capello opted to play Gareth Barry alongside Scott Parker instead.
Speaking after the game, the England boss admitted that he had been impressed by Barry's performance in place of the 33-year-old.
"He's [Lampard] one of the best English midfielders but as the manager I need to choose the players and not the name," he is quoted as saying in The Telegraph.
"At this moment Barry was in really, really good form. At the start of the season Lampard needs to play more games. The first two games that he played [for Chelsea this season] were not good.
"The last one [the victory over Norwich] he played better, but I need to choose the player who is in a good moment of form."
England have moved to the top of Group G with their win over Bulgaria and are now on the verge of cementing their place in the Euro 2012 finals.