It’s ‘pass the armband’ all over again

Carragher. Eriksson, who by default throughout his reign leaned on Beckham as his on-pitch leader, afterwards apologised for devaluing the captaincy.

Southgate is adopting a more fluid approach. Last night, in a game where on-pitch leadership should not really have been an issue against a Malta team ranked 190th in the world, he opted for Henderson, for the third time in his nine matches in charge. The Liverpool man is steady and reliable, the nice, clean-cut, no-trouble-off-thepitch type that the FA really like for their England captain.

At 27, he has time to build up his experience and captaining qualities. Henderson is not an inspirational, clenched-fist, bloodied-headband Terry Butcher type, but then plenty of England’s leaders have been steady, quiet characters. Last night at the Ta’ Qali Stadium, it was about professionalism, discipline and getting the job done. It should not have needed any inspirational leadership – but alarmingly it did, and in a test of Henderson’s rallying skills, the signs were not encouraging.

You could argue that England did not really need two holding midfielders against a team as weak as Malta, but the manager is clearly trying to establish a shape and pattern into his team. Henderson was busy, forceful and involved early on. But the big question against Henderson, sadly, is one of quality.

His passing as a central midfielder is not of the accuracy needed at this level – and that is a massive drawback in a team not blessed, as was all too evident once again in Valletta last night, creativity.

Breaking down a team of Malta’s limited ability should not have been hard, but boy did England make heavy weather of the task. And Henderson seemed unable to grab hold of the game in the way players like Butcher, Bryan Robson or Stuart Pearce would do.

It feels after this latest try-out that Southgate will have to carry on with the auditions. Maybe Kane again – after all England have had (relatively) successful striker-captains before in Kevin Keegan, Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer.

Vacancy: World Cup finals leading captain required. Applications to Gareth Southgate, c/o the Football Association. with a lot of