LONDON: Wayne Rooney will be given the opportunity to captain England for the first time in a competitive international in their World Cup qualifier against San Marino after Frank Lampard was ruled out of the match through injury.
England face the European minnows at Wembley on Friday, four days before a sterner test against Poland in Warsaw.
Rooney, who has 76 caps for England and missed the opening two Group H matches after suffering a nasty cut playing for Manchester United, captained his country in a friendly against Brazil three years ago.
“I enjoy working with Wayne, we had a good Euros,” manager Roy Hodgson told reporters yesterday.
“I was disappointed of course when he got that terrible gash and I was even worried it would keep him out not only of the September games but also of the October games.
“Luckily he has made a quick recovery and will certainly captain the team in the first one.”
Vice-captain Lampard had been in line to lead out the team today in the absence of usual captain Steven Gerrard who is suspended for the match.
“Frank had a scan earlier in the week. He tried to train apart from the team on Wednesday morning and he still felt a problem with his calf. There has been a slight tear.
“It’s not a major problem but the best thing is for him to go back to his club and receive treatment on a daily basis. We will reassess the situation on Sunday.”
Lampard’s Chelsea team mate Ryan Bertrand has also pulled out of the squad for today’s match through illness.
The left-sided player, who will also return to be re-assessed on Sunday, used an expletive as he reacted angrily on social network site Twitter to accusations he had withdrawn from the squad due to a sore throat.
He said: “Just to clarify. It’s not a ‘sore throat’ I’m ill. Swollen glands in my neck. And constant headache for 3 days now and freezing cold. Do you think a “sorethroat” could stop me being a part of a match for my club or country? #yourf******nuts this is what every boy dreams of.”
After Chelsea defender Ashley Cole was forced to apologise to FA chairman David Bernstein for a Twitter insult he aimed at the governing body last week, Hodgson used the Bertrand incident to caution his players against stepping out of line.
“It’s a reminder,” Hodgson said. “His sentiments were laudable. He was a little irritated but his choice of words was wrong but it reminds us how unbelievably careful the players have to be.”
Rooney is to become a father for the second time in May, the England and Manchester United footballer’s wife, Coleen, has revealed on Twitter.
She told her 840,000 followers that the couple were “thrilled” to be expecting a brother or sister for son Kai, who was born in November 2009.
“A few people guessed, so news is out ha!! Me, Wayne and Kai are thrilled that we are expecting a new addition to our family around May time,” she tweeted.
“Its still only early but bursting with excitement! Also wanted the news to come from us, before anyone else!” added the expectant mother.
The childhood sweethearts from Liverpool, now both 26, wed in a lavish ceremony in June 2008, but their relationship has come under scrutiny in the past following newspaper reports that Rooney used prostitutes.
“Wayne, Coleen and their families are thrilled and delighted that Coleen is expecting their second child,” a spokesman for the couple said.
“They wanted to share the great news on their popular social networking sites and that is why Coleen tweeted the news ahead of any speculation.
“Everyone is thrilled for them
Reuters
