Delph will need arm twisted
FABIAN DELPH joked he would not hand over the captain’s armband to Wayne Rooney tonight – because he is worried he might never get his hands on it again.
Delph, who will win his 17th cap while Rooney earns his 120th, said: “I probably won’t get the armband again so I won’t hand it over!”
But the Manchester City man struck a more serious tone when he said: “When I first came into the England set-up Wayne was captain and he welcomed me, put his arm around me and made me feel at home.
“So as soon as he comes on tonight I will be giving him that armband back.
“It is going to be a huge night for Wayne and we want to make it special for him. We spoke in camp and we think it is important to honour the achievements he has made throughout his career. We are really looking forward to doing that for him.
“Wayne has been scoring goals and looking as sharp as ever in training this week with us. He has always run himself into the ground, and he is still doing that.
“I have lost count of how many goals he has scored in training. His variety of goals is phenomenal. He has not changed at all. He is still kicking people.”
With Harry Kane rested Delph will lead out England at Wembley tonight 25 years after Paul Ince became the first black player to skipper the national side in a 2-0 defeat by the United States in Boston.