Keegan set to name Adams as successor to captain

Shearer TONY ADAMS was today poised to earn the honour of replacing Alan Shearer as England captain when Kevin Keegan named his squad to face France next month.

Adams is the clear favourite to take over from Shearer as captain following the Newcastle striker's decision to retire from international football after Euro 2000.

Keegan said in March that Adams would be favourite if he stayed injury-free but he could leave any decision until next week when he knows whether the Arsenal star will be fit to start in Paris.

Keegan also has the option of naming Tottenham captain Sol Campbell as captain for the 2 September clash with the reigning World and European champions .

Shearer started every one of the 16 games under Keegan and will be a hard act to follow, not just for the new skipper but also for England's next No 9.

Manchester United striker Andy Cole, ruled out of Euro 2000 with a foot injury, should be back in England contention.

However, Keegan is more likely to turn to Liverpool duo Michael Owen and Emile Heskey to actually start the friendly rather than Cole or Kevin Phillips. Robbie Fowler is ruled out by injury.

Whether he was intending to select a fifth striker in the squad was rather less clear but a potential list probably includes Michael Bridges, Carl Cort, Francis Jeffers, Dion Dublin and even Teddy Sheringham.

There was likely to be little other great experimentation with the squad, however, and almost all of those who were at Euro 2000 are likely to be retained.

Keegan already has some injury problems, with Jamie Redknapp and Jason Wilcox out of action. He will also have been assessing the fitness of Ray Parlour, Paul Ince and Steven Gerrard.

Kieron Dyer should also be recalled, while Graeme Le Saux could be back in the squad even if the Chelsea defender is patently short of match fitness.

Even 38-year-old Stuart Pearce will also have been considered by Keegan.

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