Ferdinand owes Redknapp a huge debt of thanks

Not that the two have fallen out, far from it, but as the newest England skipper pointed out, his former manager isn't altogether comfortable with newish technology.

"I still speak to Harry on the telephone although I haven't heard from him since the news broke that I was captain," said Ferdinand.

"That's not too surprising, though, because he hasn't mastered texting yet. We'll talk soon, though, and I owe a massive debt to him.

"He had the bottle to put me in the West Ham team as a youngster and set me off on my career. One of the best things he ever did for me was to send me out on loan to Bournemouth. I wasn't sure at the time but he stressed that it would be good for me and it was the turning point in my career."

Ferdinand has come a long way since then but the road hasn't always been smooth and trouble free.

Back in 2004, he was banned for eight months after missing a drugs test and, again, a talented young footballer was at the crossroads.

"It's at periods in your life like that that you look deep into yourself," he said. "I think I only missed six days' training during the time I was out. The manager said 'make sure that when you come back you're in the best possible condition', so I tried to be in people's faces, always be there. I have moved on, though."

When Fabio Capello interrupted the players' lunch to announce that Ferdinand was the latest triallist captain, the Manchester United star's face was a picture.

"Yes, I was surprised, shocked even and deeply honoured," he said. "Wayne Rooney was sitting down the table and said 'smile then!' John Terry said 'well done'. It's the biggest moment ever in my career. How many people get to be England captain?

"It's hard not to think about all the previous players who have been captain, particularly Bobby Moore. His was always the name mentioned when I was a youngster growing up at West Ham. He was always someone to look up to, how he applied himself to the game."

The Peckham-born Ferdinand will find a little time to reflect tonight on what has been a long and sometimes rocky journey.

I have known him since he was a lanky teenager, just drafted into the West Ham senior squad by Redknapp and trying to catch a lift back to south London at 2am after a long midweek trip north.

His talent was never in doubt even way back then but his temperament and concentration sometimes were. "The past is past," said the England coach, effectively wiping the slate clean at a stroke. "From what I've seen in the five days I've had him training he is a good professional who deserves a chance."

Ferdinand understandably wants to keep the armband although he is careful to point out that "nothing is set in stone".

Capello, meanwhile, has left Ferdinand and his team-mates under no illusions of what is expected of them against France tonight - and the skipper believes he is up to the challenge.

"I'm my own man. I will captain England the way I do at United," he said. "If anything needs to be said, then I won't be frightened to air my views."

Redknapp couldn't have put it better, even in a text.