England captain Steven Gerrard has admitted that he is already looking ahead to next month's World Cup qualifier against Montenegro despite meeting Brazil at Wembley in a friendly international on Wednesday.

Roy Hodgson's side are two points behind Montengro in Group H, with only one automatic place in the 2014 finals up for grabs.

Gerrard has conceded that he is desperate to avoid a playoff decider and seal a spot in the Brazilian showpiece by topping the group.

He told reporters: "Nothing will be acceptable except us winning this group.

"I'm certainly not underestimating where we are and how much there is to do. I think there is still a lot of hard work to do, that's for sure. We don't want to end up in the playoffs.

"To play Brazil at Wembley is fantastic but there is a little bit in the mind that is already just waiting for the Montenegro game. It is going to be the key game, there is no getting away from that. You can't help but think about it."

The 32-year-old was named England Player of the Year for 2012 during a ceremony at St George's Park on Sunday night.