By Chris Wright
As you’re probably well aware by now, Frank Lampard, now 35, is on the very cusp of becoming England’s latest centurion as and when he picks up his 1ooth cap against Ukraine in Kiev tonight, joining Peter Shilton (125 caps), David Beckham (115), Bobby Moore (108), Bobby Charlton (106), Billy Wright (105), Ashley Cole (104) and Steven Gerrard (104) in the Hundred Club.
Incidentally, after tonight Roy Hodgson will also become the only England manager to have both anointed and fielded three centurions.
Anyway, to mark Lampard’s momentous achievement, we thought we’d have a little look back to where it all began for the midfield stalwart: the puppy fat, the perpetually protruding tongue, the wet-look hair gel, the identical penalty kicks: as we take in his early international years in photographic form…
(Before you start: yes, we’re well aware this gallery format is clunky and therefore we try to use it as little as possible for your convenience. Unfortunately, we couldn’t use any other format for these images)
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(Photos: PA)