England v Montenegro: Rio Ferdinand will captain side for Euro 2012 qualifier at Wembley

The Manchester United centre-back will take over the captaincy from Steven Gerrard, who assumed the role for the World Cup after a knee injury forced Ferdinand out of the competition.

Capello said that the rules of the England captaincy led him to reinstate Ferdinand, despite England's wins against Bulgaria and Switzerland under Gerrard's captaincy.

"I spoke with Steven yesterday evening," Capello said. "I explained Rio will be the captain against Montenegro. He understood everything because he knows the rules - there is one captain and one vice-captain.

"I told Steven he was a fantastic captain. I said 'you have to play tomorrow like a captain. You have to be a leader tomorrow on the pitch.'"

Ferdinand has missed 16 of England's last 22 fixtures thanks to injury, but asked about his fitness Capello said that Ferdinand's recent performances for Manchester United convinced him that the defender was ready to rejoin the national side.

"He is fit completely," Capello said.

"I watched the game he played against Valencia and the other game he played. He played every game better and now he's 100 percent fit."

A spate of injuries has forced Capello to change England's centre-back partnership for five consecutive games. Although Ferdinand has never played alongside Joleon Lescott, who will start against Montenegro, Capello denied that England face an injury crisis in defence.

"Joleon Lescott played well against Switzerland. There's no problem for the defenders. I worked with the back four these last two days. I think they'll be OK for tomorrow."

Capello also confirmed that a groin injury incurred today by Darren Bent will prevent the Sunderland striker from making his first full England start. Peter Crouch will instead partner Wayne Rooney up front.