Gerrard missed out on the World Cup due to the need for surgery to cure his long-standing injury problems and has emerged with the psychological lift of feeling like a “new player”.

He was one of England’s most positive influences in the first-half at Villa Park before England faded away as the match was ruined as a meaningful contest by 18 substitutions.

Eriksson declared: “I saw him very motivated for the national team and that’s very good. I guess that he suffered in front of the television during this summer.

“He knew he could have been on the pitch in every game and wasn’t. I think he wants to play at Euro 2004 and that’s good for us if he wants that.”

The England coach added: “I shouldn’t like to play against Steven Gerrard, that’s for sure. You feel more secure when you are sitting on the England bench when he is playing.

“He can defend, tackle, win the ball and then play it forward very quickly.”

The England coach cited the example of Gerrard’s creative role in the national team’s fourth goal against Germany in Munich, delivering a quick pass fizzing into the path of Owen.

“That’s extremely good football. He is one of those modern players who wins the ball and next lifts his head up and sees Michael Owen or whoever,” added Eriksson.

“To be a good defender, winning the ball in midfield, and to be a good player as well, they do not grow on trees!”

Those type of quick passes are exactly what Eriksson is looking for, rather than the more pedestrian, hopeful long balls which some of his players tend to fall back upon if their original game-plan is not working.

“I always want to play the ball quickly forward, but I guess I’m not very strange in wanting that. Most managers in the world want to do that,” he explained.

“That doesn’t mean the right-back kicking it long just because it must be kicked long.

“You must have good opportunities to do it. The quick pass forward, whether it is over five, 10 or even 50 metres, is extremely important.

“That is true if you look at many of the goals in the World Cup, such as Brazil’s equaliser against us, that was very quick.”

Owen certainly relishes the sort of quick ball through the centre which he can chase onto, but he has tended to suffer from a lack of service in recent matches.

While Alan Smith seized his chance on his full debut against Portugal by putting England ahead with a superb diving header, Owen did not have a single clear-cut chance at Villa Park.

Eriksson nevertheless insisted: “Of course we try to feed the attackers as much as possible, but I’m not worried at all about that.

“Michael Owen is 22, he has already played two World Cups and has scored a lot of goals during his career. He can only get better and better.

“The only worry about him is to keep him fit. The same is true with Steven Gerrard.”