LONDON -- England's interim manager Gareth Southgate believes Wayne Rooney remains the "outstanding leader" in the national team as he confirmed that the Manchester United man would retain his country's captaincy.
Rooney has not been in the United team for their most recent games as his form has dipped and, despite making his debut some 14 years ago, debate continues about where exactly his best position is.
But, like his fleeting predecessor Sam Allardyce, who left after just one game having been caught up in the Daily Telegraph's investigation into corruption in football, Southgate put his full weight behind Rooney as captain.
"That decision to make him captain is simple," Southgate said. "What I have seen, and when I've talked to the staff, he is the outstanding leader in that group. The most important thing at this time is leadership and, on and off the field, Wayne has provided that and matured into that. He has been really impressive, there was no doubt in my mind of keeping him in that position."
Rooney's international career was just starting when the new manager's was coming to a close -- his final cap was shortly before Rooney made such an impact at Euro 2004 -- and Southgate commented on the difference he has seen in the now 30-year-old Rooney, in contrast to the teenager of 2003.
"He was an incredible emergence on the scene," he said. "Without being disrespectful, the character I saw in front of me last week is completely different. There was a stark contrast. I couldn't have been more impressed with the discussion we had.
"We can't have just one leader. We need a team of leaders and that has to emerge -- it's not the right environment if you rely on one leader on the field. The England rugby team had seven or eight who could captain the side. The England team I played in was the same. Wayne bears a lot of burden for this team and I think the team has to pull together and step forward."
The Rooney decision was debatable, if not surprising. However, another inclusion in Southgate's squad did raise eyebrows. Glen Johnson was given a recall for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Malta, over two years after his last cap, which came in Brazil.
Nathaniel Clyne's injury meant another right-back was required, and Southgate admitted he could see why people might be surprised, but explained why he settled on the Stoke City man to provide back-up for Kyle Walker.
"The squad over the last two years, we've gone 'young, young, young', and I'm not sure you can keep doing that," he added. "I think at times there's a moment for experience around that. In the summer we saw that we've got some really exciting young players, but in key pressure moments there's a bit of a lack of big match experience.
"To be able to bring in a player with 50+ caps was something we thought long and hard about, but we felt was the right decision."
It's been a whirlwind few days for Southgate, who a week ago was preparing for the Under-21s' qualifier against Kazakhstan, but was thrust into the senior job when Allardyce was forced out. However, Southgate said the transition thus far has been pretty smooth, although he hasn't yet taken any coaching sessions.
"The issues and workings of the last week has been almost identical to that of the Under 21s," he said. "The profile is greater and the players are older, but this has been far, far calmer than when I took over at Middlesbrough."
He has also tried to shelter himself as much as possible from the chaos surrounding Allardyce's departure, and the other accusations to have emerged from the Telegraph's investigations.
"The last week I've shut myself off in a bunker to prepare -- I haven't seen anything [that's been said] about it," he said. "It's been quite an interesting social experiment."
Southgate will initially be in charge for seven weeks, for Saturday's game against Malta then further qualifiers against Slovenia and Scotland, plus the friendly against Spain in November. He stopped short of saying he definitely wanted the job beyond that, but was clearly proud to be in the position, for however long he is.
"I've been reflecting on what an honour it is to lead the team," he said. "The opportunity to do this is something nobody will ever be able to take away from me."