Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard insists player power will not decide Sven-Goran Eriksson’s successor as England boss.

Lampard does not think the new manager has to be an Englishman. But he believes the Football Association ought to select the new man without any interference from the dressing room.

Lampard, 27, said: "I don’t think it’s my position or any of the players’ position to have a say in who takes over. It’s the FA’s position. None of us would expect to be involved at all in choosing the new manager. That’s for the FA to do and get the right man."

The FA board met today to hear from the three head-hunters, Brian Barwick, Dave Richards and Noel White, before finalising their selection policy.

Lampard said: "I’ve never held the view that only an Englishman should be the England manager. It’s one-dimensional to think that way in modern football. It should be the best man for the job, the man who gets results for the team and the country, the man we want doing the job regardless of where he comes from."

The England players met today ahead of Wednesday’s friendly against Uruguay at Anfield. It is their first game since Eriksson agreed to step down after the World Cup.

Lampard missed the cut for the World Cup in 2002. He was left out of the final 23 by Eriksson but has become a key figure in the last four years. He added: "It’s not a painful memory. I actually see it as a good turning point.

"I don’t mean to say my career turned at the moment of not going to the World Cup but I had to use it as a positive and I did that. Now I’m looking forward to being involved in my first World Cup."

Uruguay have been hit by the withdrawal of Alvaro Recoba and Diego Lopez. Inter Milan playmaker Recoba and Cagliari defender Lopez have both reported injuries, reducing the travelling party to 19 players for the Anfield encounter.

Caretaker boss Gustavo Ferrin has not named any replacements.