Capello favours Terry as England skipper

The question of who will captain England against Wales in 11 days will be answered at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Manchester United stalwart Rio Ferdinand is expected to be axed as England captain by manager Fabio Capello in an extraordinary move to reinstate John Terry.

Capello will tell Ferdinand he wants to hand the armband back to Terry before watching United play Marseille in the Champions League.

Both the news itself and Capello’s handling of it will incense Ferdinand, who may now consider his international future.

“I want to speak with the players but in the end it will be my decision,” Capello told the Daily Express.

“I think I need to make a decision about a permanent captain. I am going to Manchester to speak to Rio.”

“First of all I want to know what has happened with his back and when he’ll be fit because he is a very important player for us.”

“And I will explain to him about what I will do next week, if I will decide for the new captain to be John Terry.”

Capello believes his dressing room will be behind a return for Terry ahead of the critical Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales in Cardiff on March 26.

But the news will come as a bombshell to Ferdinand, who has made it plain he cherishes the role and wishes to carry on long term despite fitness problems.

Last night, his associates were said to be expressing his anger and bewilderment over the switch, even though he is unlikely to be fit for the Wales match.

Italian Capello believes Terry, who was sacked as his skipper in a brutal 12-minute meeting at Wembley in February last year – has been punished enough over the scandals in his private life.

Capello was horrified during last month’s friendly against Denmark as the armband was passed from Frank Lampard to Gareth Barry to Ashley Cole while Terry was left out, believing it a humiliation too far.

He said: “It would not be for just one game. After one year of punishment, it’s a good period to understand a mistake.”

“I took the decision after what I saw in the game against Denmark. I was upset for John Terry and upset myself to see the armband passed around.”

“At this moment there was confusion. We must be clear that this will be the captain of the side. I think the manager must make the decision.”

“I know the side. My first captain was John Terry. After it was Rio, then Steven Gerrard. Rio was a good captain. Steve was a good captain. John Terry was a good captain.”

“My first choice was John Terry. After the mistake, it was the vice-captain, Rio. So I will speak to the players and then we will know who is the captain the day before the game against Wales.”