CHRIS BIRCHALL

CHRIS BIRCHALL admits he is looking past Trinidad and Tobago’s opening game and focussing on locking horns with his boyhood hero Steven Gerrard.

The Port Vale midfielder and self-confessed Liverpool supporter aims to hit the ground running at the World Cup finals.

The smallest nation in the tournament faces England, and hopefully Gerrard, on June 15 after making its debut at this level against Sweden this weekend.

Birchall, 22, may have been plying his trade in League One but he aims to show he can step up a notch or two.

STEVEN GERRARD

“My whole family is from Liverpool and, being a Liverpool fan, I have been to watch Gerrard play,” he said.

“He’s been a class act for the last three or four seasons and any other day I would be supporting him.

“I’ve never played against him before, but I’m just looking forward to it. I like going in for tough challenges, and reputations don’t mean anything on the day.”