Gerrard's plea to Fab: Play me through the middle

If the penny has not yet dropped with Fabio Capello, the slot machine is broken.

Steven Gerrard’s two goals against Hungary didn’t just restore him as the king of Middle England - they were like a warning shot, with both barrels, that he should never again be exiled to graze on the left flank.

Woe betide Don Fabio if he shunts Gerrard back out to the fringes for next month’s European championship qualifier against Bulgaria when he shines brightest in the footlights of centre stage.

If Three Lions coach Capello couldn’t hear the alarm bells before Gerrard saved his skin on Wednesday night, there is nobody at home in the belfry.

So let’s spell it out for him: Make Gerrard your Great Uncle Bulgaria on September 3 or get your coat.

Liverpool’s inspirational captain is too cute as a diplomat to issue ultimatums to stubborn managers, but Gerrard was happy to let it be known how much he enjoyed playing down the middle against Hungary - and how much he enjoyed the conductor’s baton.

He said: “I was happy in the first half, playing in middle of a three, and I was happy in the second half when I got moved further forward.

“You’ll have to ask the manager what position I’ll be playing in future, but I’m obviously happy in a central position because that is where I grew up playing.

“Needless to say, I enjoyed the game and I was really pleased with my performance besides the goals, but I’m not sure what the manager will decide to do with the next team.”

England were heading for the unthinkable - defeat against a team ranked No.62 in the world, just above the Teletubbies and the Eskimos, until Gerrard’s 25-yard strike and wriggle past three defenders spared Capello from the wrath of Wembley.

He added: “In the end, we gave the fans what they wanted. When you’re expected to roll teams over, it becomes really tough if you don’t get the early breakthrough

“A lot of teams would have felt sorry for themselves after going behind, and we could have lost 1-0, but I think we can be proud of ourselves for the way we responded.

“I haven’t seen Hungary’s goal yet, but I’m told it wasn’t over the line. There you go, that’s two line decisions which have gone against us in the last two games.

“But it was a fantastic feeling to get the goals and to come away with a win. As an England player, it was a difficult game to play in and it became 10 times tougher when we went a goal down, so it’s a nice feeling to leave with a bit more positivity around the place.

“The young lads were all superb - to get thrown in the deep end like that at Wembley, when the crowd are against the team on the back of a disappointing World Cup, they showed balls and character.

“To be honest, I thought the fans were superb. Everyone was expecting boos from the start, but they got behind us. OK, they got a bit frustrated when we went a goal down, but that is normal and they deserved to show their frustration. But we hung in there and got our rewards in the end.

“I said before the game it would take a while for us to turn everything around, and one win is not going to get everyone back on our side.

“But with hard work and performances like the one against Hungary, if we can build on it then hopefully the nation will get behind us again.

“We join up again in a couple of weeks for two big Euro 2012 qualifiers - if we can win both those games, hopefully that will start the process of winning over the fans, but it will be tough for all England players in the next couple of weeks.

“I’m sure we will all get a bit of stick from rival fans in the Premier League, but we deserve that and we need to take it on the chin.”