Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has no doubts that teammate Ashley Cole fully deserves to captain England on Wednesday.

The left-back, who will be making his 102nd appearance for the Three Lions, has been handed the armband for his country's friendly with the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday night.

Lampard insists that Cole's performances over his international career warrant him leading out the side at Wembley.

"The way Ashley has performed over those 100 caps, he is the most consistent left-back probably in world football over such a long period of time," Lampard told Sky Sports News. "It's the perfect gesture and very much deserved from England.

"I have been lucky enough to play with him for both club and country and with the competition he has had - you talk about Leighton Baines in the last few years, what performances he has put in - and Ashley still remains very much the first person on the sheet when he is fit.

"So fair play to him for that. There are not many players who get to the 100 and do that."

Cole made his England debut against Albania in 2001.