John Terry heads for leading role again

If Fabio Capello was giving serious consideration to Rio Ferdinand as England's next World Cup captain, he may have to think again. On the evidence available at Wembley last night, John Terry is not going to give up the armband without a fight. Typical of Terry, you might say.

Reinstated as skipper for one night only, the defender's performance alongside Ferdinand in the heart of the England defence was nothing less than we have come to expect from one of the yeoman warriors of the modern game.

The goal he scored in the 2-0 win over the United States was a text-book header, combining strength, timing and courage, but his overall contribution will have left the England manager with a nagging problem over who should lead the team.

Terry was widely welcomed as Steve McClaren's choice as successor to David Beckham but in Capello's opening two games he gave the armband to Steven Gerrard and Ferdinand.

The whisper within the England camp suggested that Capello was leaning towards the Manchester United man for the job of leading the team in next season's World Cup qualifying campaign.

Ferdinand has worked hard to repair his image after a series of unsavoury headlines and, after an outstanding season at Old Trafford, now has the status on and off the pitch to be the long-term leader of his country.

With 67 caps he is one of the most experienced players in the team, although Terry, who made his debut five years after Ferdinand, already has an impressive total of 44.

What has caught Capello's eye is the way the Chelsea captain has embraced a tough training regime in the week after one of the most devastating episodes in his career. The costly penalty miss in the Champions League Final in Moscow reduced Terry to tears but there was no sign of any emotional hangover at Wembley last night.

Terry's goal in a fairly ordinary end of season friendly against the USA is little consolation for missing the spot-kick that would have given the Blues the European title but it at least demonstrates quite emphatically that he's back in business and will not allow any disappointment to diminish his career prospects.

"I was delighted to see him score," said Capello. "I think it was important for him to score. I am happy for him and the team. Now he can go on holiday happy."

Capello plans to announce his choice of permanent captain before the August friendly against the Czech Republic and the way Terry has bounced back from his big disappointment will give the Italian much to think about during the summer.

"John Terry is a leader - for Chelsea and the national team," Capello added. "The captaincy will not be an easy decision and even at this moment I am still undecided. But when I've made up my mind I will talk with the players first."

While there is no doubt that Ferdinand is a class act at centre back, Terry is always likely to crown a powerful, uncomplicated performance with the kind of goal that illuminated an indifferent first-half display by England.

Together, Barking-born Terry and Peckham's Ferdinand give England a mix of strength and mobility in the heart of the defence. There can be few better partnerships anywhere in world football and it is a great shame that they will not be testing themselves in the European Championship next month.

The USA team were simply too lightweight to trouble such defensive thoroughbreds and lacked the cunning to sustain any real attacking momentum. Owen Hargreaves was perhaps England's most effective player, diligently patrolling in front of the back four.

Gerrard was busy enough on the left but it is clearly not his best position, as he reminded us with his goal in the 59th minute. A beautifully weighted pass from substitute Gareth Barry sent the Liverpool midfield player hurtling through the very heart of the American defence. His cool shot into the far corner of the net was his 13th goal for England.

That, following Terry's thudding header from David Beckham's free kick, ended the match as a spectacle. Beckham, playing his 101st match for his country, made a positive contribution before being substituted at half time. He may no longer be as effective against more physically demanding opponents.

Although Wayne Rooney failed to score, and remains prone to a reckless tackle or two, he used his energy to good effect as the support striker. He linked well with Gerrard but seemed to have little rapport with Jermain Defoe.

The little Portsmouth goalscorer had a fabulous chance to open the scoring after 33 minutes but his sidefoot volley from Gerrard's cross went wastefully wide from close range. It was his chance to stake a claim ahead of the injured Michael Owen - and he fluffed his lines.

This was no classic England performance but perhaps the most encouraging of Capello's three games in charge. "I saw a lot of things that pleased me," he said. "We had good movement, we pressed the ball quickly and when it was possible we passed the ball."

Capello today trims seven Chelsea and Manchester United players from his squad before they fly off to Trinidad for Sunday's friendly in Port of Spain. Not quite the same as flying off for Euro 2008 but in the circumstances it will have to do.