Steven Gerrard tells Wayne Rooney ‘hands off’ as he reclaims his arm band ahead of Poland

Steven Gerrard has been the captain of Liverpool for nearly a decade, and his taste for leading his club by example has only strengthened in that time. However, since the arrival of Roy Hodgson as England manager earlier this year, the proud leader has taken on the massive role of captaining his country.

This past weekend he was allowed rest from his duties as England played San Marino in last Friday’s World Cup Qualifying match. During the game Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney was given a test as a potential future leader of the National team.

However, Steven Gerrard was quick to take back his rightful place during the England press conference ahead of the nation’s clash with Poland on Oct. 16, 2012 as quoted by the Daily Mail:

I’m coming up to my 99th cap but I’m loving it as much as if it was my first.

I’ve been around the set-up an awful long time. But I don’t feel old, I’m not getting bored with it.

I still feel fresh, looking forward to tomorrow’s game as much as my debut.

Every time you put the England shirt on it is a proud moment and to get 99 is a fantastic achievement for myself.

But it will only be a good memory for me if we get the three points tomorrow night.

Steven Gerrard speaks to the media (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

The talismanic midfielder was right to offer credit where it was due to Rooney who performed as a stand-in leader, but there is no denying that Gerrard is the current leader of the team:

Wayne did a good job, we got three points, he played well himself, he scored twice, he behaved himself, it was all good.

But I’m hoping he will have to wait a while (to become full-time captain). I’m really enjoying the role.

I had to wait a long time for it to come to me. I want to enjoy it before I pass it over.

England manager Roy Hodgson speaks to Steven Gerrard during the England training session (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Gerrard seems as sharp minded as ever, and has looked a reinvigorated player under both his new leaders in Liverpool’s Brendan Rodgers and his former Liverpool and now England boss Hodgson.

The England skipper has been in the National team fold for over a decade and yet has never wavered in his desire to represent his nation. There is no doubt that his dream to lift a major title with England is close to his dream of lifting an English Premier League title with Liverpool.

However, there is no way to quantify the worth of either trophy as England’s drought of what will be 48 years without a major title come the 2014 World Cup is one of epic proportions considering the nation is the birthplace of the beautiful game.

Likewise the fact that Liverpool were once the most dominant club in all of England and Europe and have been without a league title for potentially 23 years unless the side make a turnaround of herculean proportions under Brendan Rodgers this season. Granted with 30 games left, stranger things have happened.

Without a doubt Gerrard is likely to be a key factor in tonight England vs. Poland matchup as he will be without his growing partnership with Frank Lampard due to an injury to the Chelsea veteran. He is likely to link up with one of England’s up and coming youngsters in the form of his Liverpool club mate Jonjo Shelvey or Manchester United’s Tom Cleverley.

Either of which should keep him on his toes and at his best as the Three Lions have all the talent to beat Poland, but their lack on consistently fielding players together could see some unfortunate mistakes that potentially might decide the game.

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