Steven Gerrard has slammed suggestions that England players do not have enough desire and fight when playing for their country.

The Three Lions are due to take on Montenegro and Poland in their World Cup qualifiers at Wembley over the coming days in a bid to secure a place in next year's tournament in Brazil.

While some have claimed that club football is more important to players than competing at international level, Gerrard has insisted that the whole England squad "care".

"It's nonsense to say that. Nonsense," Gerrard told The Mirror. "The pain and the agony. How long that lasted after we didn't qualify for Euro 2008... I wish you could bottle that and show it to people who say those things and doubt how much we care.

"We care. Trust me, we care. No one cares more than the players. We understand the fans and media are passionate, but that's certainly the case in the dressing room.

"It's a shame the supporters and certain people can't go into the dressing room and see how we prepare and how much we want this. The word I use when people bring it up is just 'nonsense'."

England currently lead Group H by one point.