Gerrard may quit England after Euro 2012

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard is considering retirement from England duty after Euro 2012, ina a bid to prolong his club career.

Gerrard, 31, has suffered from a string of injuries in the last two seasons, and believes bringing his England career to an end may enable him to extend his time with Liverpool.

“It’s something I am going to have to sit down and think about after the Euros this summer,” Gerrard told The People.

“I’ve not spoken to anybody about it yet, nor have I made any decision about what I might do because there are a lot of things to consider.”

“I’m just fully focused on doing as well as I can for Liverpool this season and then playing in the Euros for England. After that we will see what happens.”

“First and foremost is that I love playing for England and to captain your country is the pinnacle for any player so that makes me proud.”

“And I want to make this clear, when I do decide to stop playing international football it would never be because I don’t want to play for my country – it would never be because of that.”

“But I am aware of the future, the injuries I’ve had, and I want to play for Liverpool as long as I can.”

“I also know that there are quite a few players who have stopped playing international football to prolong their club careers and it’s helped them to do that.”

“I can understand why people might think that kind of a decision is approaching and I’ve spoken to my surgeon and the medical people but, like I say, I’ve not made any decisions because there is no need yet.”

Gerrard skippered England at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and is the leading candidate to be given the armband by temporary coach Stuart Pearce on Wednesday, when the Netherlands visit Wembley.

The box-to-box midfielder has 89 caps to his name and revealed the prospect of reaching 100 might tempt him to continue.

“I’m on 89 caps at the moment so, if I’m fit and playing, with some friendly games to come and a decent tournament at the Euros, I could be in the mid-90s by the end of the summer,” he said.

“That would put me close to 100 caps which is an incredible milestone for any player.”

“But that’s out of my hands. It also depends on whether the new manager, whether it’s Harry Redknapp or someone else, would want me after the Euros.”