Monday 29 August 2016 12:48, UK
Alan Curbishley believes Wayne Rooney should remain as England captain heading into World Cup qualification.
Sam Allardyce has named his 23-man squad ahead of England's World Cup qualifier against Slovakia in Trnava on September 4, which includes a first call-up for Michail Antonio.
Rooney has been listed as a midfielder for the match by Allardyce, who confirmed on Monday he will announce his captain tomorrow.
Curbishley sees Rooney, who wore the armband during the Three Lions' humiliating Euro 2016 campaign, as the best candidate to lead England into World Cup qualification.
"The captain has got to be the first name on the sheet, playing most of the games, so is Wayne Rooney that person? I think he still is." he told Sky Sports Now.
"Rooney is probably going to be the No 10 and he's still going to be the captain.
"I don't think you can move the captaincy around from game-to-game. You've got to have certainty in your mind.
"He's going to make sure that captain puts across his message so he's going to want someone who is going to be there in every squad."
Notable squad omissions include Marcus Rashford, Ryan Bertrand, Jack Wilshere and Ross Barkley.
Barkley has created more chances (seven) than any other Everton player in the Premier League this season and scored 12 goals last season (eight in the Premier League), his highest single-season total.
However, the 22-year-old did not play a single minute at Euro 2016, and Curbishley believes he still needs to become a more rounded player to be considered for future call-ups.
"What Sam will be looking for from Ross Barkley is more consistency," he said.
"When you see Rooney in that No 10 role, he tries to see the pass, nick a goal himself and he also defends and helps out when the team is under a bit of pressure. I think Dele Alli can do those three things.
"Perhaps Ross Barkley does not have those three bits to his game at the moment."
