Wayne Rooney named England captain

LONDON: Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will take over from Steven Gerrard as England captain, manager Roy Hodgson announced during a press conference at Wembley Stadium on Thursday.

The 28-year-old forward has won 95 caps since making his debut against Australia in February 2003, scoring 40 goals, and was also named captain of United two weeks ago. He succeeds Liverpool midfielder Gerrard, who stepped down after England´s group-phase exit at the World Cup, and will begin his tenure as permanent captain in next week´s friendly at home to Norway.

Hodgson made the announcement at the same time that he unveiled his squad for Wednesday´s game against Norway and England´s opening 2016 European Championship qualifier against Switzerland in Basel on September 8.

There were four uncapped players in the squad in the shape of new Arsenal defender Calum Chambers, Tottenham Hotspur left-back Danny Rose, Newcastle United midfielder Jack Colback and Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph. Everton´s 20-year-old defender John Stones also earned a recall after being named as a standby player for the World Cup, while Tottenham winger Andros Townsend returned after missing the World Cup through injury.

It is the first squad that Hodgson has named since the World Cup and the first since 34-year-old Gerrard and fellow veteran midfielder Frank Lampard, 36, announced their international retirements.

Another long-serving player, left-back Ashley Cole, called time on his England career after being omitted from the squad for the World Cup. Glen Johnson, Luke Shaw, Ross Barkley, Theo Walcott, Jay Rodriguez and Adam Lallana were among the players who missed out on a place in the 22-man squad due to injury.

England squad for friendly against Norway and opening Euro 2016 qualifier against Switzerland:
Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City) Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Calum Chambers (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Everton)
Midfielders: Jack Colback (Newcastle United), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Forwards: Rickie Lambert (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United). (AFP)