Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole says teammate John Terry and Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand are both excellent candidates for the England captaincy.

He said: "What are the qualities of Ferdinand and Terry? Both are very similar. They have both got their attributes, are both well respected by the players.

"They are both top internationals at the peak of their game, experienced, vocal in the dressing room, both lead by example.

"They have both got all the attributes you would need - as have Steven Gerrard, as has Frank Lampard, as has Gareth Barry, and there are many others who will be in with a shout.

"But, whoever gets the nod, the boys will be right behind them."

Cole insisted: "Whoever the manager picks is going to be the right decision. You need the captain more in the bad times than in the good, the man who steps forward and takes responsibility.

"We have got so many leaders in the squad now, the Liverpool captain (Gerrard), the Chelsea captain (Terry), the Manchester United captain [Ferdinand has led United in the past, but Gary Neville is the club captain] - three out of the four top teams in the country.

"I am sure, irrespective of who takes the armband, there will still be another five or six leaders out there who will go out there and take us forward."