Liverpool captain Gerrard, who celebrated his 26th birthday on Tuesday by wearing Rooney's number nine shirt and scoring in a 3-1 win over Hungary, has been thrust into the forward role by Eriksson after scoring 22 goals for his club side in the season just ended.

With Rooney almost certainly out of England's group games at the World Cup, midfielder Gerrard now appears to be Eriksson's favoured choice as a strike-partner for Michael Owen ahead of Anfield team-mate Peter Crouch and unproven teenager Theo Walcott.

But although he admits that he is far from a like-for-like replacement for broken-foot victim Rooney, Gerrard claims he has no qualms about playing in a more advanced role in Germany.

Gerrard said: "I didn't find it a problem playing in a more forward position than usual because I've played that role for Liverpool. I've played about four or five different positions this season and I do find that I'm quite comfortable when I have to adapt.

"I enjoyed it against Hungary and I think it went quite well, but I'm nowhere near as good as Wayne Rooney there am I!

"I think it was being called Plan C by people, but it worked. I enjoy getting into the box and scoring goals and I enjoyed it against Hungary, but I'm never going to be as good as Wayne in that position.

"Still, if he's not going to be fit for the first couple of games, then I'm prepared to give it my best in that role and I think that I proved on Tuesday that I can do a job there. We also proved as a team that we have a strong squad. Despite having a couple of injuries, we adapted well and that's a good sign."

Jamie Carragher, Gerrard's England and Liverpool team-mate, was also deployed in an unfamiliar position against the Hungarians by taking the holding role in midfield.

While Carragher performed capably in that position, he admitted that Gerrard's impressive display in his advanced role came as no surprise.

Carragher said: "I thought Stevie G was brilliant and he gets forward so well, but you could play him anywhere on the pitch. He normally wears number four and didn't know whether he was going to wear number nine or not, but to score wearing number nine for England is a great thing for him to remember.

"He was just playing as a withdrawn striker really. It is not that much different than playing Peter Crouch and Michael Owen up front. It's the role Stevie plays for Liverpool and the one Wayne plays. I don't think it takes that much getting used to and he should be okay for that role in the World Cup.

"I have stated a lot of times this season, though, that I think he is one of the best players in the world.

"There is a lot of debate about it, but I don't think anyone could play better for Liverpool than he does and he played really well against Hungary."