Although Fabio Capello has expressed confidence that Terry will recover from an ankle injury suffered in training yesterday, the Chelsea captain still has to be regarded as a major doubt.

And, if he does miss out, Rooney will step in.

It would be the first time the 24-year-old has done the job for England, having had only limited experience of the role with Manchester United.

But Capello is in no doubt England's best player is the right man for the job.

"If John Terry doesn't play, it will be Wayne Rooney," said Capello.

"He is fit and he is ready to be a captain."

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Terry twisted his ankle yesterday during a lunchtime training session in searing temperatures in Qatar ahead of tomorrow's friendly with the five-time world champions.

There was no one around the central defender at the time and Capello does not feel the problem is too serious.

"I am confident about him," said Capello.

"I have spoken with the doctors and, tomorrow, I think it is going to be possible for him to play.

"But I won't take any risks. If he is not fit, he will not play."

Capello's stance is obvious given Terry's Stamford Bridge club-mate Frank Lampard was forced to fly home yesterday after suffering a recurrence of a thigh strain that ruled him out for two months a couple of years ago.

Capello does not think the problem is serious and he rejected criticism of the time England trained yesterday and there being an issue with the plane used by the Three Lions for the seven-hour flight to the desert.

"I don't understand the problem," he said.

"It was the same plane we used to go to Trinidad last year and also Kazakhstan this year.

"We didn't have any injuries then and we won both matches.

"With the training, if you want air-conditioning, you have to train inside. The match is being played outside.

"Frank came to me and said he had suffered this problem before, which was why he had stopped running.

"It was best to let him go home but, I think, in two or three weeks, he will be okay to play again."