Frank Lampard says his Chelsea team-mate Ashley Cole fully deserves the honour of captaining England in the friendly international against the Republic of Ireland at Wembley tonight.
Confusion
Roy Hodgson had initially appeared to reveal that Lampard would be skipper for the game, with Cole leading the team out at Wembley, only for the matter to be clarified later with the left-back confirmed as captain.
The England manager told a press conference: "Frank has always been the captain in Steve's absence.
"I appointed him vice-captain. But in actual fact tomorrow I have discussed this and Frank is happy for Ashley to lead the team onto the field in celebration of his 100th cap which he'll receive tomorrow.
"It's actually his 102nd appearance but he'll receive the cap tomorrow; so Frank and I are happy that he will lead the team out there. But Frank still remains captain of the team - I'm afraid that's a bit more complicated than you maybe would have liked it to be, but that's the way it is."
Hodgson then said that Cole would in fact "wear the armband" in the friendly against Giovanni Trapattoni's side - a sign, of course, he would be captain.
"After speaking to Frank and sounding out the other members of the squad... everyone thought it was would be nice if he (Cole) had the armband on and led the team out," Hodgson added.
"Frank was happy to hand over that honour because we all believe he deserves it; he's been a fantastic servant not only to Chelsea and Arsenal but England too."
What Hodgson appears to have tried to say is that Cole will in fact be captain against the Irish, but that Lampard spoke to the media because the Chelsea defender does not enjoy the attention that comes with speaking to the media on the day before the game - a responsibility usually shouldered by the skipper.
"Perhaps he (Cole) is reluctant to stand in front of the media and play the captain's role," Hodgson said.
