5 players who can replace Wayne Rooney as England captain

"My mind is made up... I've had my time. I can't have any regrets. It's now time for some of the younger lads to step up and try to take it further." - Wayne Rooney

The former England international was answering a question on whether he would change his mind on ending his England career a year before the 2018 World Cup. But the Everton forward is adamant he will not make a comeback.

The Three Lions' highest goalscorer of all time has had enough. At the age of 31, it is a bit baffling to see him end his career but it definitely makes sense from a tactical perspective.

There was no point shoehorning him into the side just because of his experience. Not quick enough to play as a forward, not creative enough to play in midfield.

Rooney's exit leaves a huge void in a predominantly young dressing room without many real leaders. So who should manager Gareth Southgate choose to hand the captain's armband for good?

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1) Gary Cahill

Gary Cahill has already captained England a couple of times

The Chelsea centre-back is not averse to the idea of taking up the captain's armband. Heck, he even managed to supplant John Terry as the Blues' captain when the club legend was dropped in favour of other players more suited to Antonio Conte's formation.

He is also currently the vice-captain of England. But with their ever-changing lineup, Cahill remains one of the constants in the side - a reliable defender who has 56 caps for the Three Lions.

"With his experience, I think he is sometimes overlooked in what he brings to the squad because quietly about his job and gets on with it." - Gareth Southgate

At 31, he is one of the senior players in the squad and he has also worn the armband on a couple of occasions when Rooney wasn't available.

2) Jordan Henderson

Jordan Henderson is England's current stand-in captain

The Liverpool midfielder has been named the captain of the current squad that is looking to seal qualification for the 2018 World Cup. He's neither the oldest player nor the most experienced, but the 27-year-old has already proven himself to be a capable leader.

Replacing a skipper like Steven Gerrard at Liverpool is no easy task. It needs a man of "great character" (as Brendan Rodgers would attest) and Henderson had plenty of it.

Like England, Liverpool also had a young squad when Henderson took the armband. And the midfielder's calm reassurance in the face of adversity and thick skin saw even the likes of a fiery Diego Costa back down when Henderson squared up to him.

"He has a voice and an opinion within this group. He has his clear ideas of what we need to work on. A good tactical understanding." - Southgate

Both Cahill and Henderson were in the running when Rooney was initially demoted and it was the Liverpool skipper who got the nod.

3) Joe Hart

Joe Hart is currently the most experienced player in the England squad

The Manchester City goalkeeper on loan at West Ham has had a tumultuous year ever since Pep Guardiola arrived and it has seen his stock fall. However, he still remains a key member of the England squad.

Hart is, after all, the most experienced international in the squad at the moment. Aged 30, the goalkeeper has 72 caps to his name. No other player has even 60.

However, the one thing that may prevent Southgate from entrusting the captaincy to Hart is the rise of Jack Butland. The 24-year-old from Stoke City already has one foot in the door and if not for his injuries last season he may have even sealed his place in the starting lineup.

Hart has a season to re-establish himself as England's no.1. But West Ham's troubles so far may prevent him from sealing his place unless he repeats his heroics from seasons past when he was one of England's best shot stoppers.

4) Harry Kane

Can Harry Kane become England's captain on a permanent basis?

All it took was 79 seconds for Harry Kane to score on his England debut. He had already lit up the Premier League prior to his call-up and it seemed like he had only changed his shirt as the players on the bench looked on with a knowing smile.

Kane is destined for great things. His goal scoring record in the Premier League suggests he could beat Alan Shearer's record if he stays in England long enough. He is only 24 and has a long way to go.

“I would love to be England captain. I don’t know what the gaffer’s feeling is but he gave me the armband and it was probably the most special moment of my career.” - Kane

Who better to lead a team than a striker who regularly scores goals? And Kane will certainly start every game for the Three Lions with Jermain Defoe on his last legs and Jamie Vardy a useful substitute.

5) Eric Dier

Eric Dier - one for the future?

If Southgate wants to pick a long-term captain, a midfielder would also be ideal. A number of players in the middle of the park have made great captains and Eric Dier would be a good shout.

The 23-year-old from Tottenham Hotspur is usually deployed as a defensive midfielder shielding the back-four but he has also played in defence when required. And he also seems to have a mature head on his shoulders.

In the past, the Three Lions dressing room has been guilty of cliques with players from each club forming groups in the squad. That is no longer the case according to Dier.

"There were 15 different clubs represented when this squad was announced. I can’t see any kind of club culture here. England is not like that at present, everyone just gets on really well." - Dier

Although on the younger side, he is considered a role model of sorts in the England setup. He also understands the importance and the pressure associated with being a modern day footballer with kids looking up to him.

"It is important that we footballers try to carry ourselves in the right way because there are millions of kids looking up to us. Every player takes that seriously." - Dier

Pure captaincy material, that!