体坛英语新闻：Lampard takes captaincy in England friendly against Denmark

LONDON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chelsea veteran Frank Lampard will lead England to unveil their campaign for the year 2011 with a friendly against Denmark at Copehagen on Wednesday as the 32-year- old was appointed as the team captain for the match on Tuesday.

"It's quite unexpected but I am a very proud man," said Lampard while regular choices for captain Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard are both set to miss the game due to injury.

"I have been in the squad for a very long time now and I have waited patiently and it could be one of the proudest moments of my career to lead out the boys," said Lampard.

Lampard has 83 England caps but has had an injury-hit season for Chelsea and has not played in an international match since the friendly against Hungary in August. But England manager Capello believes Lampard is in good form at the moment.

"I have monitored him in the last five games he has played, he has improved a lot and I saw him play against Liverpool and he had a really good game," Fabio Capello said of Lampard. "I followed him during the game and think he is in good form. He is fresher than the other players."