"I Was Right To Miss Finals" Says Steven Gerrard

Liverpool and England Midfield star Steven Gerrard says that he was right now miss the World cup finals and he is now feeling the benifit of it.

The Liverpool star set to take his place in the England side for the up coming Friendly with Portugal says he "feels like a new player" after having an operation at the end of last Campaign.

Gerrard said: "It was a massive disappointment for me missing the World Cup. I could have definitely said 'yes, I'm fit enough to go to Japan' and then done the first couple of training sessions and maybe been fit for the first game.

"But my groin was not in the condition where I could have played three games in seven or eight days which is what England had to do.

"I also thought that there were other players that could do the job that Mr Eriksson wanted me to do - and maybe do it better than me because I was not in good shape at all. Nicky Butt had a fantastic World Cup.

"I wouldn't risk anything and it was during the last match of the season that I realised I was not going to the World Cup. It was a massive game for Liverpool (against Derby) because we needed three points so I had to go out and try.

"Towards the end of the season the groin got worse and worse and there were some games where I wasn't able to train beforehand and I just wasn't right. I wasn't getting the best out of myself in the games.

"I was seeing people all through the season and they were saying I didn't need surgery. I was trying things and they were helping to get me through certain games but they were not making the groin perfect.

"I feel as if my groin is perfect now and I think I made the right decision to have surgery and since then I have felt like a new player and even sharper than before. Hopefully I can go on and realise the full potential and that I can be fit all season for Liverpool and be available for all the England games. That's my main aim."

He added: "I went through all the emotions in the summer - jealousy, disappointment. You name it, I was feeling it. I was kicking every ball with the lads. Once I knew I was not going, I got behind the lads like a supporter."