Tony Adams has called upon Fabio Capello to follow the example of his predecessor as England manager and appoint John Terry as captain. Capello will bring a six-month trial period to a close this lunchtime by announcing his decision to the squad at their team hotel in Hertfordshire, where they are preparing for tomorrow's friendly international against the Czech Republic at Wembley, and Rio Ferdinand is the favourite to take the armband on a permanent basis ahead of Terry.

Capello was impressed with Ferdinand when he led the side for the first time in a friendly international defeat to France in March, regarding him as a naturally assured leader who is guaranteed his place in the side. The Manchester United captain has played in all of Capello's four matches in charge, whereas Terry has appeared in two of them, missing the Italian's first game against Switzerland with a broken foot and being rested from the summer trip to Trinidad and Tobago. Terry's injury record also suggests that he could be forced to miss further crucial matches in the future.

Capello has yet to give either player any firm indication that they are the chosen one. This gives Adams cause to hope that Terry could yet be given the job, as he was under Steve McClaren. “I would choose John Terry, 100 per cent,” Adams, who led England on 15 occasions, said. “He would have been my captain before the last World Cup and nothing has changed since. He is a great leader, a great man and a great footballer. I have nothing against Rio. They are both great players, but John Terry can organise it and lead better than anyone else.”

Given their vast experience England's players would be comfortable under either man, with Joe Cole insisting that the favoured candidate will have the squad's full support. “It's not that it doesn't matter, but whoever you pick is going to be the right decision,” Cole said. “Rio and John are both very similar, with all the right attributes and well respected by the team. They're both top internationals at the peak of their game, very experienced, vocal in the dressing-room and lead by example.”

Jonathan Woodgate missed a light training session yesterday, but the Tottenham Hotspur defender is expected to be fit for tomorrow.