Barry to captain England

The 30-year-old Manchester City man is handed the armband by coach Fabio Capello just days after John Terry was reinstated as skipper following a year's punishment against Wales at the weekend.

A number of players will be rested for the clash with the Black Stars at Wembley including Terry, as Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard are still missing through injury.

It will therefore be a much-changed Three Lions side with Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Wayne Rooney, Michael Dawson and Kyle Walker all returning to their clubs.

Capello confirmed that others now have the chance to step up to the plate, and Liverpool striker Andy Carroll is set to start.

On Barry's appointment, the Italian said: "He's a good player, a good captain.

"He's also the player with the most England caps."

Bolton defender Gary Cahill and Everton duo Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines will start the tie in defence, while Scott Parker faces a late fitness test.

"Some of the players have played a lot," Capello added. "They should only play three games in eight days - I think four games in 10 days is too much. I respect the clubs and the players.

"I'm not sure but it might be seven changes. Joe Hart will play in goal, I will play Cahill, Jagielka centre-backs and Baines on the left. I will play Andy Carroll and Barry will be the captain.

"If Parker is fit he will play. He's got some little problem but I hope he will be fit."

Capello insisted fans should not feel short-changed by his changes, claiming fringe players will benefit from experiencing the 'spirit of the team'.

"I respect the fans," he said. "It will be interesting for the fans to see some players they know very well, it will be interesting for me and for the fans.

"The players who will play will be really good players, it's really important for the players to understand the spirit of the team and I hope tomorrow we can see the spirit on the pitch like in the first 30 minutes against Wales."

However, the England coach also admitted that he has respect for the players and clubs following the many withdrawals.

He said: "I respect the players, I respect the clubs, and I want the players to be fit after this game."

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Barry confirmed as England skipper for Ghana

Gareth Barry will wear the captain's armband when England take on Ghana at Wembley on Tuesday evening.

Coach Fabio Capello released the five players who featured in the 2-0 win in Wales who also have Champions League duty next week, which means skipper John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Wayne Rooney and Michael Dawson have all returned to their clubs.

Terry's absence means Capello had to give the armband to another player just days after the Chelsea defender returned to the role on a permanent basis. With Lampard and the injured Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard, who have recently captained England, also not in the squad it meant Capello had to look elsewhere.

The favourite to lead the team against the World Cup quarter-finalists was always Barry, who was not even in the 18-man squad at the Millennium Stadium.

Barry has worn the armband twice in the past, taking over from Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard respectively when they were substituted in international friendlies against Egypt and Denmark.

"He's a good player, a good captain,'' said Capello. "He's also the player with the most England caps.''

Capello will use the game to experiment with fringe players and revealed he will make seven or eight changes to the side which started on Saturday. Andrew Carroll, Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka are confirmed starters but Scott Parker, who played so well in Cardiff, is carrying a knock and will be assessed. But on Monday, Glen Johnson was the only absentee from training of the 20 players still at Capello's disposal.

"If Parker is fit he will play,'' he added. "He's got some little problem but I hope he will be fit.

"It will be interesting for the fans to see some players they know very well, it will be interesting for me and for the fans. The players who will play will be really good players, it's really important for the players to understand the spirit of the team and I hope tomorrow we can see the spirit on the pitch like in the first 30 minutes against Wales.

"The players that aren't here, those that went home, are not here because if you are tired it is easy to be injured.''

Ghana are likely to ring the changes too, having beaten Congo 3-0 on Sunday in an African Nations Cup qualifier with the goals coming from Prince Tagoe, Dominic Adiyiah and Sulley Muntari.

Meanwhile, Gerrard has revealed that Capello phoned him to explain the captaincy situation. The Liverpool skipper led England at the World Cup finals with Ferdinand ruled out of the tournament.

He said: "I did get a call. The manager just explained what he had been doing. He didn't have to. The manager's paid to make big decisions and he's made the decision. We all have to respect it and move on.

"The captaincy's very important, I know what it means to John and he's been frustrated since he lost it. Everyone's obviously upset for Rio but pleased for John, and as a player being in the middle is difficult."

Capello has also admitted that England made a mistake over Rooney's disciplinary situation, with the coaching staff failing to warn the striker that he was one booking away from a suspension. That now means he misses the important date with Switzerland at Wembley on June 4.

Capello said: "Usually we tell players but this time no. Rooney misses the next game and when I told him he said 'Why?' He was surprised. He didn't realise he'd been booked before.

"Rooney wants to win every tackle and I changed him in the second half because if he had got another yellow card he would have been sent off."

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Barry to lead England at Wembley

England manager Fabio Capello has named Gareth Barry as captain for Tuesday's friendly against Ghana at Wembley.

Barry, 30, will lead out a much-changed side from the one that beat Wales 2-0 in a Euro 2012 qualifier on Saturday, with Andy Carroll starting up front.

Capello reinstated John Terry as England captain last week and explained why he had spoken to Steven Gerrard but not outgoing skipper Rio Ferdinand.

"Rio was captain, so I must meet him. Steve is only vice-captain," he said.

Capello, who admitted last week to making mistakes over the captaincy issue as he reinstated Chelsea's Terry as skipper, added: "I hope I will speak with Rio next week."

I respect the fans. It will be interesting for them to see players they don't know well

On Sunday, Gerrard - who is injured and not on England duty - revealed that Capello had phoned him to explain the decision to hand the armband back to Terry, while Ferdinand - who is also injured - has had no contact with the manager.

Capello said he will make "about seven changes" for the game against World Cup quarter-finalists Ghana and revealed his reasons for allowing Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Wayne Rooney and Michael Dawson to return to their clubs.

"Some of the players have played a lot," said Capello. "They should only play three games in eight days - I think four games in 10 days is too much. I respect the clubs and the players.

"Joe Hart will play in goal, we will have Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka at centre-back and Leighton Baines will play at left-back. Barry will be the captain and Carroll will play up front.

"Scott Parker will play if he is fit but he has got a little problem. I will decide on Tuesday if he plays for 90 minutes or however long.

"Barry is a really good player, a good captain and he's also the player with the most England caps in the squad now."

Wilshere impressed once again in England's 2-0 win over Wales

Barry, who has 45 caps, admitted it would be a dream come true to lead his country out at Wembley.

"Obviously it's going to be a massive moment in my career," said Barry. "I'm really looking forward to doing the job.

"I will be the same player I always am. You don't put the armband on and change. I've got experience of three years captaining Aston Villa and there is some extra responsibility, but I won't change the way I play."

Wembley is expected to be a sell-out for the game, but Capello shrugged off the suggestion that some supporters would feel short-changed by the number of alterations.

"I respect the fans, too," he said. "There are a lot of changes, but it will be interesting for them to see some players who they don't know very well and it will be interesting for me as well.

"It's really important for the players who come in to understand the spirit of the team. I hope on Tuesday we can take this spirit on to the pitch, the same as the first 30 minutes against Wales on Saturday."

Arsenal's Jack Wilshere may keep his place in midfield for the game, with a potential row brewing over whether he should be made available for England's European Under-21 Championship campaign in Denmark in June.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is likely to want Wilshere to have a rest in the summer, but the 19-year-old - along with Liverpool's £35m striker Carroll - is wanted by Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce.

"This is international football and I want to play in any international football," said Wilshere. "It's up to Stuart Pearce and Fabio Capello. They will talk and see what's best for me.

"I always speak to the manager at Arsenal and I will again. I am sure Stuart and Fabio will talk to him as well."

Capello added: "Of course, I will support Stuart 100% if he wants to take them. I think those two players will be really important for the Under-21s, they can make the difference."

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