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Roy Hodgson to decide on future England captain as Rio Ferdinand calls for Wayne Rooney to get job

With Steven Gerrard retiring from international football and Frank Lampard expected to follow suit, England manager must make decision ahead of next game, in September

Roy Hodgson to decide on future England captain as Rio Ferdinand calls on Wayne Rooney to get job
Future leadder? Wayne Rooney should be next England manager, according to Rio Ferdinand Credit: Photo: ACTION IMAGES

Roy Hodgson will start work on picking England’s next captain after returning from holiday this week.

Steven Gerrard announced his decision to retire from international football and he is expected to be followed by Frank Lampard, who has joined the Major League Soccer club New York City.

That leaves Hodgson, the England manager, looking for a new captain before his team face Norway at Wembley on Sept 3 and start their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign against Switzerland five days later.

Having come back from his summer break, Hodgson will immediately meet the coaches Ray Lewington and Gary Neville to discuss the pros and cons of his leading candidates.

Wayne Rooney is desperate to take over the captaincy from Gerrard and the striker was third in line for the armband during the World Cup.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart and central defender Gary Cahill are the only other realistic choices among Hodgson’s young squad.

Rio Ferdinand, the former England captain, believes that his old Man­chester United team-mate Rooney is ready to lead his country.

“You look at other countries, the natural progression would be Wayne getting it now,” Ferdinand said.

“With other countries, it’s usually the guy with the most caps, or who is most influential and I think Wayne is the most influential player that England have got at the moment, now Steven Gerrard has gone.

"It would seem like a natural progression if you were looking at it from the mindset I just said there. Joe Hart is another one. I think you have to look at who is going to start.”

Asked if Rooney is captaincy material, Ferdinand replied: “Yes, I think he has grown, he is growing into that role.

"He’s experienced now, he has played at the top level, he’s won a lot of things. He knows the game. He’s got the right tools for that.

“At the same time, the captaincy, especially in England, we maybe go a bit overboard on it.

"You need as many leaders out on the pitch as you can get. You need people to lead by example, not just on the pitch but off the pitch. Hopefully, we have got a few in there that can do that.”