Sir Geoff Hurst hails Steven Gerrard

England legend Sir Geoff Hurst has heaped praise upon Steven Gerrard as the Liverpool captain prepares to earn his 100th senior international cap.

The 32-year-old midfielder will become a Three Lions centurion when he leads Roy Hodgson's men out against Sweden in Stockholm tonight.

"I'll be delighted when Gerrard has reached his century of England caps," Hurst, who scored a match-winning hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup final, told The Mirror. "He has been a credit to his country, and to Liverpool, for more than a decade.

"In fact, if you asked me to name the Premier League footballer who has given me the most pleasure, or who I would pay good money to watch, this century, Gerrard would be my choice.

"His range of passing, his knack of scoring important - and often spectacular - goals, and his ability to lift a whole team through his sheer force of willpower is a rare combination."

Hurst was capped 49 times by England between 1966 and 1972, scoring 24 goals.