Terry Butcher has launched a scathing attack on England, lambasting the nation's top stars for "playing like they've got their headphones on".

Former England captain Butcher admits fearing Scotland could steal victory at Wembley in Friday's World Cup qualifying clash.

The 77-cap former Ipswich and Rangers defender believes fear of failure still cripples England, but insisted Gareth Southgate's players must shoulder far greater leadership responsibilities.

A blood-soaked Butcher famously played through a head wound in England's vital World Cup qualifying goalless draw in Sweden in 1989, but now laments the lack of strong characters in the national side's ranks.

"The players have got to take the responsibility with England now, they have got to really want it," said Butcher.

"With England it's always 'someone's going to do it, someone's going to come up trumps', but no one does.

"Bryan Robson used to lead by example, but he also used to stir people up and have a word. If he had a word with you, you didn't want it again.

"That doesn't happen now. The players are not vocal, they're not demonstrative.

"They play like they've got their headphones on.

Butcher thinks England could lose to Scotland (Getty)

"You think 'what music are they listening to?' They're listening to the wrong track.

"They're not on the same beat."

Butcher branded England matches as "purgatory" for spectators, and said interim manager Southgate must produce results to be considered worthy of permanent appointment.

Sam Allardyce's departure after a Daily Telegraph investigation into corruption having managed just one game leaves Southgate holding England's fort while the FA plan for a replacement behind the scenes.

England could land a hammer blow to Scotland's chances of World Cup qualification with victory this week.

Butcher admitted in his heyday England would have relished such an opportunity, but now the 57-year-old questioned whether the old rivalry still stokes the fires among the current international crop.

"If that was us we would have taken great joy in effectively ending Scotland's qualification chances," said Butcher, speaking at a Ladbrokes event at Wembley Stadium.

"But I don't know if the players think like that anymore.

Butcher famously played on with a blood-soaked head wound (Getty)

"Gareth Southgate's talked a great game, his manner and the way he's conducted himself has been very good.

"But it's results and performances that matter.

"Every game, every week you think 'what's going to happen with England'.

"We're reaching new lows all the time. And just when you think it should have bottomed out, it doesn't, it seems to get worse.

"So from Scotland's point of view there's no better time to come and play England at the moment. They've got nothing to lose in a way.

"With England you've got to win but you've also got to play well.

"Nil-nil in Slovenia is not acceptable from an England viewpoint.

"When Sam was there they scraped a one-nil win against Slovakia even though they were down to 10 men, so the England team is not firing on hardly any cylinders at the moment.

Gareth Southgate is trying to prove he is the man to lead England (Getty)

"It's purgatory watching England, it really is. When you watch England it's groundhog day."

The former Motherwell and Hibernian manager continued: "The jersey's like a straitjacket for the players. They're playing with their hands tied behind their back.

"It is expectation. But they are a team of individuals.

"On paper they are good, excellent players.

"In their own right those players could play for any Premier League team, no problem.

"But when you put them together for England it just misfires.

"In days gone by you would have had leaders on the pitch that would push players, Stuart Pearce, Tony Adams.

"You did it as much for them as you did for the fans, because you wanted to please the senior players.

"But there's not many senior players in the England team now. There's not many characters or leaders.

"And that's where the younger players then think what they are doing is fine, but it's not.

"You don't give the ball away. When you get opportunities, you're ruthless. But we've not been any of those things for a long time.