Interim England manager Gareth Southgate says more players need to step up as leaders and help current captain Wayne Rooney manage the responsibility.
Southgate was placed in temporary charge of the senior side after the sacking of Sam Allardyce, who was relieved of his duties after being involved in an undercover sting operation relating to third-party ownership.
The former Three Lions international named his first squad for the upcoming 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Malta, on October 8, and Slovenia three days later.
Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard was handed a surprise call-up whilst right-back Glen Johnson, who last appeared for the national team in 2013, was also included.
Once again, the debate rumbled on to whether Rooney would be retained as captain after being resigned to a substitutes’ role for the Red Devils in recent weeks.
At 30, the skipper is the joint-oldest player in the current squad whilst he is the most experience on the international stage by far, having amassed 116 caps.
Southgate insists there was no doubt in his mind the forward would be his captain but the temporary boss has called for other members to step up in a leadership role.
“I go back to the England team that the Rugby World Cup (in 2003) and they had seven players that could have captained that side. It was the same with our Euro ’96 squad,” he told reporters.
“Wayne bears a bit of that burden and maybe a little bit too much at times.” England, who are 19.00 to win the 2018 World Cup in Russia, are 1.18 favourites to top qualifying Group F, which also includes Slovakia, Lithuania and Scotland.
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