Man City goalkeeper Joe Hart emerges as series contender for England captaincy

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has reportedly emerged as a series contender to be the next England captain as boss Roy Hodgson has been impressed by the dressing room influence of the stopper.

Speculations have been rife that after Steven Gerrard quit international football, Hodgson would turn to Wayne Rooney to be the captain of the England football team.

But, it has been revealed that Hodgson is also considering about giving the prestigious armband to Hart, whose dressing room influence impressed the England boss, The Mirror reported.

Hart is also reportedly the number one choice as goalkeeper in the Hodgson regime and would be the last line of defence in England's European Championship qualifying campaign, which begins in September against Switzerland in Basel.

Rooney is the favourite, but Hodgson may feel that the Manchester United striker would be more effective concentrating on his own game rather than dealing with the distractions that go with the captaincy role.

Hart has 40 caps now and has been a key figure in Hodgson's squads and if he becomes the skipper, he would become the fourth goalkeeper in the modern era to captain England, the report added.