Terry´s England captaincy questioned after ´affair´

John Terry’s future as England captain was called into question on Saturday when British newspapers responded to reports about his infidelity by demanding he be stripped of the role.

But despite the controversy surrounding his alleged extra-marital affair with the ex-girlfriend of a former Chelsea team-mate, the Premier League leaders insisted they had no qualms about selecting him to play against Burnley on Saturday.

“John has got his football head on,” Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins told ESPN shortly before kick-off at Turf Moor.

“He is a fantastic professional as far as the footballing side of his life is concerned,” former England midfielder Wilkins added.

“He has done so wonderfully well for us and he will play today with no problem whatsoever.”

Earlier, Terry briefly signed autographs as Chelsea left their team hotel but refused to comment about the allegations.

Terry, 29, who was voted Britain’s Dad of the Year last year in a sponsored survey, has two children with his wife Toni.

The central defender was named on Friday as the sportsman behind a gagging injunction involving his private life.

A judge at London’s High Court subsequently lifted the order and Saturday’s papers alleged Terry had an affair with the ex-girlfriend of former Chelsea team-mate Wayne Bridge, Vanessa Perroncel.

Bridge, in a statement issued through his lawyer, said Saturday: “I have read the press reporting in the last two days. The reports deal with matters which are of a deeply personal and private nature.

“My primary concern is the welfare of my son. Therefore, I intend to make no comment whatsoever either now or in the future about these reports and ask that my privacy is respected,” added Bridge, who now plays for Manchester City.

The Daily Telegraph’s chief football writer Henry Winter, a prominent member of the England press pack, led the calls for Terry to hand in the captain’s armband.

“I like Terry, the one natural leader in the England dressing room, a player so passionately committed to the cause of St George that he willingly endures jabs just to get his stiff back through games, but this really is an embarrassment too far. It’s time for him to stand down,” Winter wrote.

Bridge played with Terry for six years during his time at Chelsea before leaving to join Manchester City in January 2009.

The left-back is widely expected to be called into Fabio Capello’s squad for this year’s World Cup in South Africa as cover for Terry’s Chelsea team-mate Ashley Cole.

Terry was named England captain by former England coach Steve McClaren in August 2006 and Capello confirmed he would continue in the role shortly after the Italian took charge in August 2008.

Vice-captain Rio Ferdinand and his Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney have been touted as the favourites to replace Terry as skipper if Capello, a renowned disciplinarian, decides to strip him of the captaincy.

England begin their World Cup campaign against the United States in Rustenburg on June 12.