Fight for it, guys! Capello hands Terry the England armband - but Ferdinand wants it back

That gives Rio Ferdinand, Terry's main rival for the captaincy, the opportunity to enhance his own reputation in Trinidad as the pair fight it out for the armband.

Skipping past: Terry gets the better of Ferdinand in training, but who will win the battle for the armband?

The Manchester United defender decided to make the trip after Capello held talks with every England player who appeared in last week's Champions League Final in Moscow.

Capello's decision to hand Terry the temporary captaincy has lifted the Chelsea skipper's spirits after the heartbreak of his penalty miss against triumphant United in last week's shoot-out.

He captains his country for the first time since England's 3-0 victory over Russia last September and has then been given the rest of the summer off by the Italian coach after an injury-plagued season.

But Terry still believes he will, ultimately, lead the team into their World Cup campaign. Chelsea full back Ashley Cole, who played in Moscow despite injuring his ankle, is a doubt tonight and after yesterday's training the players believe Portsmouth's Glen Johnson could get the nod ahead of United's Wes Brown at right back.

West Ham's Dean Ashton is expected to partner Wayne Rooney in attack - Capello has altered his tactics to accommodate Rooney in the 'hole' - and the pair trained well together this week.

Ashton, who was denied his debut against Greece under Steve McClaren in 2006 due to injury, will be itching to get his chance, though Portsmouth's Jermain Defoe also featured in training.

Steven Gerrard, another candidate for the permanent captaincy, could be shunted out to the left of midfield.

Capello has made clear he will audition for the role of skipper throughout the summer and Gareth Barry is likely to be given his chance against Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday.

Ferdinand was the captain during England's defeat in France in March and he has impressed Capello with his maturity.

The Italian has yet to make a decision for the August friendly against the Czech Republic.

Capello, who spoke in English for the first time in a press conference, said: "The captain is John Terry. I decided before Moscow that he would be captain for this game. It's a good decision for Terry because it was not a nice thing last Wednesday. I spoke to him and saw that he was very well. He has spent two days with us in the dressing room and I know he's playing very well. I decided he would be captain and he is the right man.

"What is very important is that the captain is a leader and John Terry is a leader. I've spoken to him, not about the penalty, but I know about his psychological state of mind."

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

ENGLAND (4-4-2): James; Johnson,
Ferdinand, Terry, Cole; Bentley,
Lampard, Hargreaves, Gerrard;
Rooney, Ashton.

USA (4-4-2): Howard; Lewis,
Hejduk, DeMerit, Bocanegra;
Donovan, Dempsey, Edu, Beasley;
Jaqua, Johnson.

Referee: Kyros Vassaras (Greece).

TV: BBC1, 8pm (kick-off 8.05pm).