Roy Hodgson has suggested that Wayne Rooney is his first choice as vice-captain for Euro 2012, despite the fact that he will miss the opening two group games.
Steven Gerrard has the armband for the tournament but if he were to get injured then Rooney could lead the side.
Hodgson told reporters: "Vice-captain is something we're considering and Wayne would come into the reckoning.
"We're having to take it on a game-by-game basis but Wayne would be considered."
Becoming vice-captain could be a stepping stone for Rooney, 26, to eventually take up the national captaincy when Gerrard retires.
Rooney will not feature when England play their final warm-up game against Belgium this evening ahead of the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine which begin on Friday.
England's first game is against France in Donetsk on June 11.
