Stevie In The Shadows

Steven Gerrard is not forceful enough to be the England captain.

That was the verdict of The Sun's Shaun Custis as the Sunday Supplement looked at just who should lead the national side once Rio Ferdinand is fit again.

Gerrard was handed the armband for the first two Euro 2012 qualifiers and was instrumental in England picking up maximum points against Bulgaria and Switzerland.

But with Rio Ferdinand ready to return to action the Liverpool skipper is expected to step back down to vice-captain for the next qualifier, against Montenegro in October.

And Custis believes that is the right decision, simply because Gerrard is not comfortable taking charge of a dressing room that contains some of the biggest names - and egos - in the game.

"One of the feelings about why Steven Gerrard has been flourishing as captain at the moment is because Frank Lampard is not there, John Terry is not there, Rio Ferdinand is not actually there and he feels able to exert his authority if you like, when the big boys are not there," he told the Supplement.

"When they are not there of course, he is the major senior player; he is the one that can go round the dressing room saying do this, do that, to the other players. But when the others are there they have a massive standing in the game.

"When they're back in the squad - and they will be back in the squad - does Steven Gerrard go back slightly into his shell and think 'the big men are back in town'? I'm not sure he feels he is the man that can go round to Ferdinand, Terry, Lampard and say do this, do that. I think he feels intimidated.

"John Terry didn't have any qualms about that and Rio is similar when he's in charge - although there is also a feeling that he pulls everybody together, north and south, and there's a good spirit with him.

"I can see the argument for Steven Gerrard but I think you have to reserve judgement and see how he reacts when all the big players are back."

Terry was of course stripped off the captaincy before the World Cup, but still stunned the football world with his infamous press conference in South Africa.

Ferdinand was injured before a ball was kicked but has since said he expects to reclaim the armband when he is fit enough again.

And Custis pointed out that Gerrard himself has kept tellingly quiet on the whole issue.

"Do you see that he doesn't always exert himself?" he questioned.

"You could see in his leadership the other night, he was really bossing the game. But he's already opened the door for Capello to return to Rio.

"He was asked a question the other day about how he would deal with something and he said pretty much said 'It's alright, Rio will be back soon'.

"It's not like he said I want to keep this job; he could've said that but he didn't. Now when Rio was stand-in captain I seem to remember him saying 'I like being England captain'!"