Barry delighted at rapid change in fortunes as he leads his country

Barry has been handed the armband in the absence of John Terry, who has been allowed to return to Chelsea along with the other four squad players still involved in the Champions League. But the Manchester City midfielder did not even feature among the substitutes for Saturday’s 2-0 win over Wales in the Euro 2012 qualifier in Cardiff.

It was in stark contrast to Barry being one of the first names on Fabio Capello’s team sheet up to and including last summer’s World Cup.

The emergence of Jack Wilshere, the form of Scott Parker and the return to fitness of Frank Lampard have intensified the competition for places, particularly with currently sidelined Steven Gerrard also to return.

Barry said: “I’m not looking on being made captain as softening the blow after not being involved at the weekend.

“I’m not trying to look at it that way at all. Saturday was disappointing for me, not to be involved at all.

“But that is football and how things can change so quickly. One day you are not involved and a few days later you are being asked to lead your country out at Wembley.

“I’m more experienced now and, although disappointed at the weekend, you learn to deal with things like that in a better way.”

Barry admitted: “It is always going to be a tough ask to keep a place in the England side for so long. I’ve been lucky enough to play a lot of games. But the central midfield spot at the moment seems really hot, with Jack Wilshere bursting through and Scott Parker playing well and Frank and Steve having been there for so long.

“It is a tough place but I’ve learned about being out of the team before, I didn’t play for a number of years at one stage.

“But you have to keep working hard and waiting for your chance to come. That’s what I’ll do.”

Barry will lead England out for the first time – he has worn the armband against Trinidad and Tobago, Egypt and Denmark, but never from the start of a game.

He said: “I was delighted when the manager told me before training (yesterday) that he wanted me to lead the team out. It will be a proud moment for me. The England captaincy has always been a big thing and rightly so.

Capello confirmed that he will attempt to speak face to face with deposed captain Rio Ferdinand after speaking already with vice-captain Gerrard about his change of leader.

He said: “I hope I will meet Rio in the next weeks. I preferred to speak personally with Rio.

“But I do not understand why people talk about the captaincy all the time.”