It's all Bottoms with you isn't it?

Ahead of England's crunch must win but let's not put too much emphasis on it-as we'll probably only draw friendly against Spain at Old Trafford tomorrow night, stand-in skipper Steven Gerrard has backed Joey Barton's fascination with his bottom. Or, to put it another way, he said that Barton's contraversial comments slamming England's World Cup flops for bringing out books when they've won nothing, were a welcome kick in the bottom. Gerrard added that Barton's controversial England call has given Steve McClaren's misfiring squad a much needed "shake-up" in the bottom department.

The Liverpool midfielder held out the hand of friendship to fellow Scouser Barton despite the simmering anger in the squad over the Manchester City man's attack on the "bullsh*t" books brought out on the back of the World Cup flop. But Gerrard, who leads England at Old Trafford tomorrow, admitted that McClaren's men needed to know their bottoms, or arses as the Americans prefer to call them, were on the line after a poor start to their Euro 2008 campaign.

Gerrard, who hilariously left a copy of his own book outside Barton's hotel room yesterday, said: "If you look at our performances in the last couple of tournaments I think a firm boot to the bottom area is just what's needed. If Joey can help us in this department then it's the team that counts, bottoms or no bottoms. Steve McClaren's said that himself. If you look at our performances you can tell there's a lot of work to do. New additions to the squad help. We're all professionals at the end of the day. New ideas freshen things up and keep players on their toes and away from their bottoms. When you know you have competition behind you for places it can help you raise your game and, as any pro will tell you, your bottom should then take care of itself."

Barton held clear-the-air talks with Frank Lampard - who had gone public with his anger at the City man's withering attacks - after arriving at England's Manchester base yesterday.