Roy Hodgson believes that handing Wayne Rooney the England captaincy will "take him onto a new level".
The 28-year-old succeeds Steven Gerrard as Three Lions skipper after the Liverpool midfielder's decision to retire from international football following this summer's World Cup.
"It has been said in the past the captaincy will take him onto a new level," Hodgson told reporters. "With his 95 caps, goals and all the things he has done, what we've seen he is willingness to take responsibility.
"He deserves it, his commitment to the cause, his experience. He has captained England in the past and has that responsibility at Manchester United.
"All I can hope is that he continues to play well and shoulders the responsibility as well as the captains before him."
England begin their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign next month with a trip to face Switzerland.
Daniel Lewis
