[30stone]

Steven Gerrard has revealed he would "love" Everton counterpart Mikel Arteta to come into the England fold.

Arteta, who is from the Basque Country and is Spanish by nationality, has never been capped by the reigning European and world champions. He qualifies for England through the residency rule like his compatriot Manuel Almunia, the Arsenal goalkeeper.
You want to play with the best players, and if it makes the England squad better, of course I'd like to see it.
Steven Gerrard on Arteta

And Liverpool skipper Gerrard admits he would welcome his Merseyside rival into the England camp. He told TalkSPORT's Drive Time: "I'd certainly love nothing better than to see Mikel Arteta available for England.

"You want to play with the best players, and if it makes the England squad better, of course I'd like to see it," he went on. "I think it happens to most national teams [that they pick non-nationals], but it's up to him if he wants to make himself available. You want to play with the best players, and if it makes the England squad better, of course I'd like to see it."

Gerrard added: "Fabio Capello is the man to answer the question because he's the manager, but for me he's an excellent player."



Well said gerrard.