Rio confirmed as captain as England lose Bent to injury

Rio Ferdinand was today confirmed as Fabio Capello's England captain - as the Three Lions chief lost Darren Bent for the Euro 2012 clash with Montenegro.

Capello pulled Ferdinand to one side before this morning's training session at Wembley to tell the Manchester United defender he would wear the armband for the sixth time after relinquishing the honour on the eve of the World Cup.

But within an hour Capello was forced to redraft his plans for the game with the surprise Group G leaders after Sunderland striker Bent tweaked a groin and was ruled out of the game.

Capello said: "Darren Bent is out. He has a little pain in his abductor and he can't play. I think I will play Peter Crouch instead."

Explaining the captaincy decision, Capello added: "I spoke to Steven Gerrard and explained why Rio will be the captain against Montenegro.

"I told him he has been a fantastic captain and that I need him to still play like a captain now, without the armband, because that spirit will be important.

"He understood everything. He knows the rules, that I have a captain and a vice-captain. When the captain comes back, the rules are always the same.

"I spoke individually with Rio before training and then spoke to all the players to tell them Rio would be the captain for the next game."

Ferdinand has played just four games for United after recovering from the knee injury that struck him down in Rustenburg and Capello added: "I monitored him in training and he is completely fit.

"I watched the games he played against Valencia and Sunderland and he is getting better every game. Now he is 100 per cent fit."

Joleon Lescott will partner Ferdinand at the back in the absence of back victim John Terry and Capello said: "Lescott played well in Switzerland. I have big confidence in him.

"We have worked with them together. All the players who are here are in a good moment. I think it will be okay against Montenegro."

Bent ruled out of Montenegro match