Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard has insisted he will be fit for England’s World Cup opener against USA on June 13 (15/2 Gerrard - Top England Goalscorer).

The Anfield icon jarred his knee in the 2-1international friendly win over Japan in Graz on Sunday but insisted it was not serious.

He also withdrew from training last week because of a calf injury but played down any lingering concerns about his fitness.

“It’s OK, it’ll be all right,” he said. “It won’t be a problem.”

Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry is almost certainly ruled out of that Group C encounter in Rustenburg and remains coach Fabio Capello’s biggest headache.

England wrap up their group campaign against Algeria in Cape Town on June 18 and Slovenia on June 23 in Port Elizabeth (1/16 England - To Qualify From Group C).