Rooney hoping he can become full-time England captain in the future

Oct 13, 2012 5:10:00 PM

The Manchester United forward is set to hand back the armband to Steven Gerrard for England's trip to Poland on Tuesday, but vows to remain a leader in the camp

Wayne Rooney has said he wants the England captaincy full-time in the future, but will be happy to return the armband to Steven Gerrard for the trip to Poland.

The Manchester United striker scored twice in a 5-0 win over San Marino at Wembley while skippering his country for the first time, helping the Three Lions to regain top spot in Group H.

But Roy Hodgson will reinstate Gerrard as captain for match in Warsaw on Tuesday, with the Liverpool skipper back from suspension, although Rooney hopes to claim the armband on a permanent basis in the future.

"If you can get the opportunity to captain your country, it's something which I think - as a player - you need to grab with both hands,” Rooney told the Football Association’s official website.

"In the future, hopefully that'll happen but, at the minute, Steven's our captain and he'll lead by example for us."

However, the Manchester United striker has vowed to continue acting as a leader and inspiring his younger team-mates even if he is not in possession of the armband.

“It won't be a different way I look at the game or the way I try to do things,” he added.

"I always try to talk to my team-mates and I feel I can help them. It's something that I was lucky to have when I was younger and it's something which I feel it'll benefit them."