With several young English players impressing in recent international friendlies, the future of the England team looks promising.
But what does it have in store for some of the ‘older’ players in the squad, such as current skipper Wayne Rooney.
With the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott all waiting in the wings there have been calls from the punters here in the Transfer Tavern, for Roy Hodgson to drop Rooney from the squad completely!
That would still be a massive call for Hodgson to make with Rooney the most experienced member of the squad, who still does have a lot to offer.
Of course, he recently became the country’s top scorer when he passed Sir Bobby Charlton with his 50th goal for the Three Lions.
But should Hodgson decided that Rooney’s international days are now behind him, who would replace him as skipper.
Our landlord here in the Tavern has compiled a list of FIVE potential candidates to replace Wayne Rooney has England captain…..
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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE FIVE CANDIDATES!
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Joe Hart
For the last few years the place of Joe Hart in the England team has not even been talked about.
He has 57 caps to his name now and as number one at Manchester City where he has won six trophies in the last five years, it has been a good time for Hart.
But he now has some real competition in the shape of Jack Butland and Fraser Forster.
It is not nice to think of it in the way that Butland’s unfortunate injury that looks like ruling him out of Euro 2016 might just work in Hart’s favour, and maybe having the captaincy could see Hart raise his game even further in order to see off the challengers and cement his place.
Gary Cahill
Cahill looks to be a good bet for the next England captain should the vacancy arise.
He captained his country for the first time in last weekend’s friendly win in Germany.
He is now a seasoned player at this level and is one of the most experienced in the England squad at the minute.
With 41 England caps under his belt, he has also appeared over 100 times in the Premier League where he will have picked up tips from an ex-England skipper in John Terry, during the last five seasons playing alongside him at the heart of the Chelsea defence.
Jordan Henderson
A few years ago, not many people would have thought of Jordan Henderson as Liverpool, and potentially England, captain.
But he has skippered at Anfield this season after the departure of Steven Gerrard last summer.
An England regular now for the last couple of years, he now has 23 caps to his name, this could be his time to really step up and make his mark.
He has come in for some criticism for his captaincy at Liverpool but he is bound to make mistakes in his early stages – but he has the potential to be a captain for both club and country for years to come.
James Milner
Like Cahill, James Milner has the opportunity to lead his country over this friendly double header.
He will lead in this week’s friendly against Holland at Wembley.
There remains doubts over his long-term future and he, himself, has said that he will consider his international future after this summer’s European Championships.
However, as a current vice-captain at Liverpool and amongst the game’s top professionals at the minute Milner could still have plenty to give.
One of the most consistent players at the top level of the game over the past decade he doesn’t always get the credit that he deserves.
He has 57 caps for his country and has nearly 150 Premier League appearances under his belt, winning the top prize on two occasions.
Michael Carrick
This one probably seems the most unlikely of the others on the list given that Carrick has not always been a favourite in the current England regime but there are many that believe that he still has plenty to offer.
But he will turn 35 this summer and there are doubts over how long he can maintain his form at the very top level.
It always comes as a surprise when you learn that Carrick has only 34 caps for England given that he has been one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, over the past decade.
He has had some pretty fierce competition, though, with the likes of Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard but he is still playing at the top of the game and is vastly experienced at the top level.
