John Terry has told Fabio Capello he will be available for the European Championship in the summer.

The last hope of the Football Association, that Terry would choose to absent himself from the event, ending all controversy around his inclusion, evaporated at the weekend when Terry informed Capello that it was his intention to play for England this season, if selected.

The pair did not meet face to face at Chelsea’s match against Manchester United on Sunday but have spoken since the FA board made their decision to strip Terry of the England captaincy pending his trial for a racially aggravated public order offence.

Stripped: Chelsea's John Terry has lost the England captaincy for a second time

Terry told Capello he would be available, if fit, curtailing speculation that he would quit England in protest at his demotion. Short-term, the diagnosis on his knee injury is not encouraging, with fears he may be out for three to four weeks, removing him from England’s friendly match against Holland at Wembley on February 29.

It is the summer that concerns Capello, however, and in particular what he sees as an absence of leaders in England’s dressing room.

From his words on Italian television on Sunday, it is plain that whoever wears the armband for England has a ceremonial role. Capello sees Terry as his captain, and will continue leaning on him in private.

There is precedent in the way Sir Clive Woodward treated Lawrence Dallaglio after he lost the England rugby captaincy following a tabloid scandal.

Martin Johnson was England’s captain, an inspirational figure, who lifted the 2003 Rugby World Cup. In Woodward’s eyes, however, the captaincy did not change. He continued to regard Dallaglio as the team leader. Johnson, he said, came alive on match days. Through the week, strategy, development, tactics, were all discussed with Dallaglio.

Nobody suggests Capello consults Terry on how England play. He is regarded, however, as the strongest voice among the playing staff and is admired by Capello for his forthrightness.

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