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LONDON. – Ex-England soccer captain Bryan Robson believes there is not a stand-out candidate to replace Steven Gerrard as national team skipper.
Gerrard (34) has quit international football and Robson feels striker Wayne Rooney (28) would be the best choice from the options available.
“As a captain I don’t think we have a standout candidate,” Robson told BBC Sport.
“You look at all the candidates and there’s not many about. For years you have always had two or three players who could actually be England captain but at the moment I don’t see a standout one.

“Wayne has captained Manchester United and England. He knows what it’s about.”
Robson, capped 90 times between 1980 and 1991, believes Rooney, Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart and Chelsea defender Gary Cahill are the three options available to manager Roy Hodgson.

“Hopefully some of the young boys can come through and really prove themselves after the experience of the World Cup and stamp their authority on the England squad,” he said.

“But I don’t see that now. Really, you have to go to the experienced ones who will play each game, especially with the European Championship coming up.
“Joe Hart, Gary Cahill and Wayne Rooney look like the contenders.”

Rooney has captained England twice – in a pre-tournament friendly with Brazil in 2009 and a World Cup qualifier against San Marino in 2012 – as well as having previously had a stint as vice-captain.

“Wayne has proved he is our best player,” Robson said.
“He leads by example. He works really hard for the team. No matter what position the coach wants him to play, Wayne wants to do the job. That is a good sign for a captain. If it was Wayne I would have no doubts about him being captain.”

Robson also thinks that United needs to replace both Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra, who joined Inter Milan and Juventus respectively, with experienced players.
“We have lost Nemanja (Vidic) and we have lost Patrice (Evra) and so they are going to need replacing to a certain degree,” he said. – BBC Sport.