England best is yet to come: Gerrard

England's Steven Gerrard says he is out to make amends in Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Austria after failing to show his club form for his country.

Inspirational as he steered Liverpool to last season's European Cup, Gerrard knows he has yet to make a success of his England central midfield partnership with Frank Lampard.

"I think the most important thing for me is to take my club form on to the international stage," Gerrard told reporters on Wednesday before the Group Six game.

"My performances of late have been very average, and I need to raise my game internationally, to try and help lift the team," he added.

England's shock 1-0 defeat by Northern Ireland last month remains a painful memory for the Liverpool skipper, whose side need to beat the Austrians and Poland next week to qualify as group winners.

"To get beaten by Northern Ireland in a World Cup qualifier was a low point and I'm still hurting from it now," he said.

"The most important thing in the next two games is points, but it would be nice to entertain as well and pay the fans back for that embarrassing defeat in Belfast."

Key to any England success will be an improvement in the rapport with Chelsea's Lampard, who overshadowed his partner at Euro 2004 in Portugal.

"I wasn't good enough at that tournament," said Gerrard, who missed the 2002 World Cup through injury.

DIFFERENT PLAYER

"But the idea for me now is to try and get the team to the World Cup and then, hopefully, you'll see a different player in the next tournament.

"The partnership can definitely improve. I don't think we've set the world alight but I think you're talking about two fantastic players who will be able to adapt and will make it work.

"I've spoken to Frank about it a lot and we're confident we can make it work. Naturally I'm a little bit more defensive than Frank and maybe he's a bit more forward-thinking than myself, so I think that's how it'll work."

The irony was not lost on Gerrard that the challenge with England follows a week in which their two clubs met in both the Champions League, a 0-0 draw, and the Premier League, where Chelsea ran out 4-1 winners.

"It is strange," Gerrard said. "Me and Frank have been kicking lumps out of each other for the last week and now we've got to be the best of mates and hopefully improve this relationship in the middle of the park for the country.

"When you meet up with England you forget what happens at club level, you get on with the job that needs doing here."

England could also qualify for the World Cup as one of Europe's best two runners-up, if they beat Austria and the Czech Republic lose to the Netherlands.