Wayne Rooney gets nod as England captain

LondonManchester United striker Wayne Rooney will take over from Steven Gerrard as England captain manager Roy Hodgson announced during a press conference at Wembley Stadium on ThursdayThe 28yearold forward has won 95 caps since making his debut against Australia in February 2003 scoring 40 goals and was also named captain of United two weeks ago He succeeds Liverpool midfielder Gerrard who stepped down after Englands groupphase exit at the World Cup and will begin his tenure as permanent captain in next weeks friendly at home to NorwayWayne Rooney PicAFPI think Waynes an obvious choice and he certainly deserves it Hodgson told journalistsHis commitment to the cause his experience the fact hes already captained England in the past and now he has the responsibility at Manchester United all these factors weighed on my thought processI had a long conversation with him and hes prepared to accept the pressures that the England captaincy brings because its quite important to make sure the person to whom youre offering the captaincy is ready to take on that responsibilityIn a statement published on the Football Association website Rooney said To be named as England captain is a dream come true for me personally and of course my family It is something that I will take massive pride in doingAs a kid I always loved watching a big England game on the television Back then I had a burning ambition to play for my country To be appointed captain is beyond my wildest dreamsI would obviously like to thank Roy and the coaching staff for having the belief and confidence in me to do the jobFour new facesHodgson made the announcement at the same time that he unveiled his squad for Wednesdays game against Norway and Englands opening 2016 European Championship qualifier against Switzerland in Basel on September 8There were four uncapped players in the squad in the shape of new Arsenal defender Calum Chambers Tottenham Hotspur leftback Danny Rose Newcastle United midfielder Jack Colback and Aston Villa midfielder Fabian DelphColbacks selection came as a surprise and follows the 24yearold central midfielders closeseason move to Newcastle from formative club SunderlandI spoke to someone who knows him well and he called him The Ginger Pirlo It would be nice if he turned out like that Hodgson said I was impressed with him last year and he has an awful lot to offer He is a very talented playerEvertons 20yearold defender John Stones also earned a recall after being named as a standby player for the World Cup while Tottenham winger Andros Townsend returned after missing the World Cup through injuryIt is the first squad that Hodgson has named since the World Cup and the first since 34yearold Gerrard and fellow veteran midfielder Frank Lampard 36 announced their international retirementsAnother longserving player leftback Ashley Cole called time on his England career after being omitted from the squad for the World CupGlen Johnson Luke Shaw Michael Carrick Ross Barkley Theo Walcott Jay Rodriguez and Adam Lallana were among the players who missed out on a place in the 22man squad due to injuryEngland squad for friendly against Norway and opening Euro 2016 qualifier against SwitzerlandGoalkeepers Fraser Forster Southampton Ben Foster West Bromwich Albion Joe Hart Manchester CityDefenders Leighton Baines Everton Gary Cahill Chelsea Calum Chambers Arsenal Phil Jagielka Everton Phil Jones Manchester United Danny Rose Tottenham Hotspur John Stones EvertonMidfielders Jack Colback Newcastle United Fabian Delph Aston Villa Jordan Henderson Liverpool James Milner Manchester City Alex OxladeChamberlain Arsenal Raheem Sterling Liverpool Andros Townsend Tottenham Hotspur Jack Wilshere ArsenalForwards Rickie Lambert Liverpool Wayne Rooney Manchester United Daniel Sturridge Liverpool Danny Welbeck Manchester United