Sven-Goran Eriksson has made the Arsenal defender skipper in the absence of David Beckham, who will join up with the squad along with Michael Owen after Real Madrid’s final fixture of the season, this weekend.

And Campbell claims the pride of captaining his country will go a long way to making up for a disappointing season. He has missed large chunks for club and country with ankle and Achilles’ tendon injuries, and was an unused substitute when Arsenal won The FA Cup last weekend.

So he is determined to prove that he is still one of the best central defenders in the world when a young England side take on the United States on Saturday.

He admitted: "It has been a frustrating season for me, being injured and having a stop-start time, but for the last couple of months training has been much better and much sharper and I've been more happy within myself.

"To be England captain is a great honour. It's nice to have that with the kind of season I've had through the frustration of not being able to play and do the things I know I can do. Now it's behind me and I'm looking to the future."

Campbell has not played for England since last October, and has seen John Terry mount a serious challenge to be Rio Ferdinand’s partner, but says he will work his way back.

"It is only normal that if you have been out of any job for near enough a year, of course you've got to get back to the way you can play and back into people's minds, and that comes from good performances and digging deep.

"I've got a lot of talent and a lot of experience. I know what I can do when I am fit and I'll just go from there. I'm nearly there in terms of fitness. I've only played a couple of games, so my match fitness is a little bit short but you only get that by playing games."

Campbell will be one of the oldest heads in a young team, and he says: "The young lads all want to prove themselves and they've got the opportunity to do it."

He knows it won’t be easy though, adding: "America have proved themselves over the past major competitions that theyare a force to be reckoned with. There are no easy teams anymore when it comes to world football. They are improving, and as games go on, they will get better and better, just like any other country."

Bruce Arena’s side have two World Cup qualifiers coming up next week, and Campbell is aware that if England also reach Germany, it could be his last finals. "Thank God that I've had these problems this season and not next season.

"It hurt to be on the bench for the Cup Final. It's not the same as playing and of course I was frustrated but you've got to put those things behind you and look to the future and that's what I am doing.

"I've got a lot to come next year."