Terry’s qualities make him right choice – Milner

The Three Lions manager has come in for heavy criticism for his handling of the John Terry captaincy saga and, in particular, the failure to notify axed Rio Ferdinand before going public with the news.

Suggestions were even made by sources in the England dressing room that the decision to return the armband to the Chelsea captain had caused a split among the players.

Milner, however, insists that no such schism exists and that Capello’s side are fully focused on Saturday’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales in the Millennium Stadium.

“Absolutely,” said the 24-year-old Leeds-born Manchester City midfielder when asked if the England camp was still firmly behind their manager.

“The manager makes his decisions. We stand behind him, push on and improve.

“Everyone is happy for John Terry. It is disappointing for Rio but he is a top player and a great person to have in the squad. That is the unanimous feeling in the squad.”

Terry was axed as England captain last year after details emerged of an alleged affair between the Chelsea defender and Vanessa Perroncel, former girlfriend of Terry’s then international team-mate and former club-mate Wayne Bridge.

Capello felt the position had become untenable but, after learning Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard would miss the qualifier in Wales, has had a re-think.

Milner said: “Every week in the Premier League, and for England, John Terry has shown his qualities.

“He puts his head in where a lot of people wouldn’t. He puts his foot in and wins tackles. He leads on the pitch but also off it.”

The England squad will head to Wales tomorrow knowing that the reception inside the Millennium Stadium come matchday will be anything but welcoming. A sell-out crowd is expected to produce a hostile atmosphere that will test the mettle of the Three Lions, who cannot afford any more slip-ups after dropping two points in a goalless draw against Montenegro at Wembley earlier in the qualifying campaign.

It means a game that, on paper, should be a formality due to Wales having been in shocking form during qualifying will be anything but, as Milner acknowledges.

He said: “It will be a tougher game than if you were playing the bottom team in your group and they weren’t on your doorstep.

“Obviously we know more about them, as they do about us because we have played for the same teams.

“It is not a question of keeping your distance. Once that whistle goes everything is out of the window.

“It doesn’t matter whether it is your team-mate, your best friend or the best man from your wedding, you just try to win the game.”

Having started four out of England’s last five internationals – he was suspended for the other – Milner is expected to be part of an XI that will also include fit-again Andy Carroll for the first time in a competitive international.

Milner said: “Andy is looking sharp. He had a good game when he made his debut in November and has obviously been injured since.

“But he is fit and doing a lot of finishing work.”

In the scoring stakes, Milner is yet to get off the mark for the senior side but he added: “It is not something I think about, though it would be nice to get on the scoresheet.

“I have come close a couple of times and hit the post at Wembley.

“It would be great to actually get one but the main thing is whether I am contributing to a winning team.”

England will be looking for a repeat of their last trip to the Principality in 2005 when a 1-0 win kept Sven Goran Eriksson’s side on course for the following year’s World Cup in Germany.

To do so, the Three Lions will have to nullify the threat of key performers such as Gareth Bale and Craig Bellamy.

Milner knows all about Bellamy, who is on a season-long loan with Cardiff City, from their time together at Manchester City and Newcastle United.

“I am sure he will just be his normal, quiet self,” laughed the England midfielder.

“He is a great professional, who works very hard. He has a lot of ability and will be a real handful on Saturday.

“No one will be more desperate to win the game than him. It is down to us to match that desire and workrate. Then hopefully we will come out on top.”

Saturday’s qualifier will be former Sheffield United manager Gary Speed’s first competitive game in charge of Wales, who have Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey back available.

Any hopes the Welsh may have harboured about qualifying for Euro 2012 in Ukraine and Poland are over following defeats on the road to Montenegro (1-0) and Switzerland (4-1), plus a 1-0 loss at home to Bulgaria.

England, meanwhile, can move to the top of Group G with victory on Saturday due to leaders Montenegro not being in action.