Gerrard left in the dark over England captaincy

Although Pearce has been accused of unnecessary prevarication over confirming his choice of captain for the Wembley friendly against Holland, he insists it is solely because he wants to get the decision right.

Steven Gerrard remains the overwhelming favourite, with James Milner, Scott Parker and Joe Hart also having their backers.

Whoever it is, Pearce is adamant even in these days of uber-riches and Champions League excitement, the occasion will have special significance.

“Captaining England was the proudest moment of my career,” he said. “If I feel that in my heart I can’t take the decision lightly.

“I can only view it as I see it. When you play for your country that is the true pinnacle of anyone’s career. That is still the case.”

The theory that Gerrard will be the chosen one was strengthened by Pearce’s admission he came to an outline decision on the matter a fortnight ago, straight after he was confirmed as Fabio Capello’s successor for this one game.

Given that Rio Ferdinand ruled himself out of the running when John Terry was deposed and Frank Lampard has not been picked, it does not seem credible the instinctive reaction should be that anyone other than Gerrard should get the job.

He wore the armband at the World Cup. That he was one of the best performers in South Africa but England were poor overall is something of a paradox.

It is also true that Gerrard – who will win his 90th cap tonight – has not played for England since the friendly defeat to France in November 2010, and has never been on the pitch at the same time as likely midfield partner Parker as the Tottenham man was introduced after Gerrard had been substituted in the 2004 friendly defeat to Sweden, the previous time they have both played in the same game.

“For a player of Steven’s ability to be away from the international stage for that long is a shame,” Pearce said.

“He is as good as it gets in this nation – both what he does on the pitch and how he is around the camp. We are pleased to have him back.”

Pearce confirmed he had spoken to Kenny Dalglish about the Liverpool talisman but no agreement was in place, for Gerrard or anyone else, about the amount of time they would be expected to play for.

“I have a duty of care to all the players,” Pearce said.

“If I am putting them on the pitch and they are only half fit, that has to be detrimental to us.

“But I would fully expect Steven to play. He has not been on an international football pitch for a long time. It would be folly for a player of his quality not to figure in a game of this magnitude.”

Pearce did slightly trip himself up when he referred to Terry as “the current captain”.

It appeared to be more of a slip of the tongue rather than a genuine claim that he regards the Chelsea man, absent through injury and facing criminal charges of using racist words to Anton Ferdinand last October, as still being skipper – a view which ended Capello’s four-year tenure.

Without that row, Capello would still be in his £6m-a-year post and putting in place all the Euro 2012 plans Pearce has been either rubber-stamping or tweaking this week.

The Italian sent a text of support on Monday, which could also have been one of sympathy and understanding as Glen Johnson’s withdrawal yesterday means Pearce lost 20 per cent of the 25 players he originally named last Thursday for this meeting with the World Cup runners-up.

“Fabio texted me on Monday to wish me good luck and I texted him back to say thank you for everything he had done for me,” Pearce said.

“I am eternally grateful because he made me very welcome. It is a great learning curve to work with someone with his CV.”

However, Pearce is his own man. Twice in the past seven days he has recoiled when the name of his mentor Brian Clough has been mentioned.

And, with Johnson’s departure, the way is now clear for Pearce to right a less significant wrong than the snub Clough received from the FA by handing Micah Richards his first England start since the 2007 defeat to Croatia that brought Steve McClaren’s reign to an end.

“Whoever picks the England squad, you are probably going to get 21 or 22 the same and one or two you see something in or have a personal connection with,” Pearce said. “Micah falls into that category with me.

“It is not easy to keep your place in the Manchester City team with the money they have spent.

“His form has been fantastic and he deserves to be here,” added the stand-in coach.

Pearce has backed Ashley Cole to recover from his present difficulties at Chelsea.

Cole has endured a difficult season at Stamford Bridge and was one of the senior players dropped by under-pressure manager Andre Villas-Boas for last week’s Champions League defeat to Napoli.

“He is an outstanding talent,” Pearce said. “I have a great deal of respect for him because the fact I played left-back means I understand the position.

“He is the best left-back that has ever played for England. That is a fact.”