• Euro 2012

Pearce throws Milner into England captaincy debate

ESPN staff
February 24, 2012
James Milner: England captain? © PA Photos
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Stuart Pearce provided his thoughts on a plethora of England-related issues on Thursday, but perhaps his most intriguing comments related to the captaincy, where he hinted James Milner could be in the running.

Pearce, in caretaker charge after the resignation of Fabio Capello, named an England squad blending the youth of Fraizer Campbell and Tom Cleverley with more established names such as Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard for the Wednesday visit of Netherlands.

The major job left for Pearce to do is to pick the man to take on the captain's armband, after it was stripped from John Terry. The names of Gerrard or Scott Parker are believed to be favourites for the role, but Pearce gave an interesting insight into his thinking regarding England's leader.

''Just over a year ago I was asked to give a talk about leadership to the troops in Afghanistan,'' Pearce explained. ''On the trip over there I thought 'How do I approach this? What key element do I believe would be fundamental in a leader?'

''The one word I could come up with was unselfish. Your team-mates have to know you're in this for their greater good, rather than your own.

"I will attempt to pick a captain who I believe has that sort of respect in the other players' eyes - someone for whom the team mattered a hell of a lot.

''I see that in the James Milners of this world - they are team players. That's the one fundamental that all leaders have.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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