Ferdinand tipped to lead England

lil eva · Ferdinand tipped to lead England

Manager Fabio Capello is expected to name his permanent England captain on Tuesday, with defender Rio Ferdinand the favourite to land the job.

Manchester United's Ferdinand, 29, was one of four candidates tried out by Capello in his first games in charge.

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard, Chelsea's John Terry and Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham are expected to miss out.

If Ferdinand is appointed captain he will lead the team out for the friendly with the Czech Republic on Wednesday.

Terry, 27, was the captain under former coach Steve McClaren as England failed to qualify for Euro 2008.

Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole says the England players will support whoever Capello decides should take over the captaincy.

"Whoever gets the armband will get the support from all of us from the start," confirmed Cole.

"There are five or six leaders out there and the boys will get right behind whoever it is."

Capello has taken his time to choose who will wear the armband on a permanent basis, the decision coming eight months after he was appointed as McClaren's replacement.

Gerrard captained the side in Capello's first friendly against Switzerland, Ferdinand for the defeat in France, Terry for the 2-0 win over the United States and Beckham for the game against Trinidad and Tobago in June.

The Italian said all along he was merely trying out the players in the role and would make a permanent choice in time for the World Cup qualifiers, which begin in September.

Josie-lufc

We will lose then

skyblue

i think rio's the perfect choice.....hes a better footballer than terry for a start

and josie.......once those 3 lions ore on they're chest they have no clubs.....they're england players

Josie-lufc

If you say so Sky-blue

skyblue

so its terry

lil eva

Well i thought it would be him all along really,but it gave the press something to debate about

I hope Rio gets his chance cause he is passionate about England.