Fabio Capello will resist any campaign to oust John Terry as England captain, even though the Italian looks set to name Steven Gerrard as skipper for his first match against Switzerland on Wednesday.
That is the belief of Ray Wilkins, who was the first Englishman to play for Capello at AC Milan nearly 20 years ago.
Wilkins also believes David Beckham will eventually win his 100th cap under Capello - who dropped him and then brought him back at Real Madrid last season, and has axed him again now with England due to a lack of match fitness.
Former Chelsea, Manchester United and England skipper Wilkins, who won 84 caps, met Capello again last week in London, and said: "Fabio won't be swayed by any campaigns or what people say they think he should do."
Capello has said he will delay naming his permanent captain until the start of the World Cup qualifiers in September and Wilkins, asked whether the Italian was waiting for Terry to come back from injury, said: "It (the delay) would suggest it.
"John is a great captain, a super captain. He's a leader of blokes and always wants to communicate. And Fabio will want somebody who will front him up, look him straight in the face and give him feedback.
"John is that type of guy. When you speak to him he is right in your face, he doesn't take his eyes off you. He'll definitely get that from John. Whether Stevie (Gerrard) is the same I don't know because I don't know him as well as I know John.
"When John is not playing for Chelsea, you see a different Chelsea. When he had that manager-captain relationship with Jose Mourinho there it was fantastic - and I liken Fabio to Mourinho as a coach."
Terry has been out of action since breaking three toes in Chelsea's defeat at Arsenal on December 16 but is expected back soon - and certainly in time for England's first World Cup qualifier against Andorra on September 6.
Doubts have been raised about his sometimes over-aggressive conduct on the field and some sleazy personal publicity off it, but Wilkins insists: "Capello will make his own decisions and stand by them.
"He's got probably the best CV around and you don't win things at Juventus, Milan, Real Madrid and the like if you are a shrinking violet. He'll handle all the pressure, no question.
"There will be no free caps handed out like I think there have been in the past. I think he'll make it that it's going to be an honour to break into his group. You'll have to be playing some super football and fighting tooth and nail to get in."
Wilkins, who was assistant to Peter Taylor in his successful spell with the England Under 21 team from 2004 to 2007, added: "I think a lot of the young prospects in the Premier League have impressed Fabio - and he's seen bundles of games already.
"People think because he's an Italian coach he'll concentrate on defence but he won't do just that. He'll want to win because at this level you have to - and that means scoring plenty of goals.
"Sure, he's very disciplined and you'll see that with the team, but with the players we've got I think he will juggle it a touch to begin with.
"He doesn't pick people on reputation. I support him on dropping Beckham from the squad this time because he's not match-fit. He can't be because he's played just two matches since October/November.
"But Fabio realises, I'm sure, that David still has immense qualities and that he will get that 100th cap once he has played more games.
"Fabio is a Beckham admirer. You only have to see what he did for him last year when he brought him back in for a struggling Real Madrid and David galvanised them to the title almost off his own back.
"David's only 32 and is proven quality. Fabio knows that. Look back at the last World Cup and two of the best players were Figo and Zidane, both 34. If David can come back and help us qualify then that's what it is all about."
Wilkins, now 51, captained England 10 times, managed QPR and Fulham, was Dennis Wise's assistant at Millwall for a spell and is still actively seeking another management role in the game.
More news from SportingLife.com
