IF the next two months go to plan, John Terry could end the season with some of the most prized possessions in the game.

The Chelsea skipper already has a Carling Cup winner's medal and, with the Premiership title all but sewn up, few would bet against a Champions League gong completing a memorable treble haul.

On an individual level, the 24-year-old is expected to enjoy even more success with both the Football Writers and the PFA Player of the Year awards likely to be heading his way.

But, rather than resting on his laurels, Terry has already set his sights on an even more prestigious honour. It will not happen today and it is unlikely to happen this season but, one day, the London-born defender would love to own the one item that would elevate him above all of his peers - David Beckham's England armband.

"I think I've got what it takes to be captain," said Terry, who will win his 17th international cap against Azerbaijan tomorrow in the continued absence of the injured Sol Campbell.

"At club level, I've stepped into the role of captain and felt very privileged to have done so.

"My team-mates speak well of me, and I like to be a leader and a bit of a joker around the place. On the pitch, I'm very vocal. If someone needs to be told, they get told - it doesn't matter who they are.

"I've had that attitude ever since I was a kid.

"I think being made captain of your country would mean an awful lot to anyone but, at the moment, I think we've got a fantastic captain already.

"David's such a great talent - one of the best right foots I've ever seen - and, on and off the pitch, he's great with the lads. I've got great respect for him and it's going to be a good few years until anybody gets the armband off him."

One of the high points of Beckham's captaincy came in 2001, when he produced an inspirational display against Greece and all but booked England's World Cup spot on his own.

The former Manchester United star seemed to draw inspiration from the captain's role but, since then, his form has dipped alarmingly as his impact as skipper has waned.

He was unable to inspire the kind of revival that might have taken England to the last four of either the World Cup or European Championships and has been criticised for a lack of leadership in key games.

Terry cannot be criticised for that this season, with the centre-half producing a thunderous tackle or a verbal volley when his side have needed it most.

Different captains have different styles but, while Beckham seems to cajole and coax, his England team-mate is much more likely to command a response. "I think I'm similar to Tony Adams," said Terry. "As a boy, I used to watch him and pay a lot of attention to his game.

"As I've grown up, I've tried to put some of that into my game. I never take anything for granted and I always give 110 per cent - he was very much the same. That comes naturally I think.

"When I first came into the Chelsea side, I was training with the likes of Dennis Wise, Marcel Desailly, Roberto Di Matteo and Mark Hughes.

"I remember the first training session with Gianluca Vialli after he was made manager. I came in and kicked him from behind and the other lads were saying 'You can't do that'.

"But he came over, shook my hand and said 'That's what I want to see'. He made a point of telling all the other young lads that was the attitude he wanted to see - no matter who they were, they were there to be kicked.

"When Jose (Mourinho) came in at the start of the season he sat me and Frank (Lampard) down and told us 'It's between the two of you as to who's going to be my captain. Whoever it is, I want you to be a winner and I want you to be my speaker on the pitch'.

"That's what I've tried to be."

There have been times when England have lacked a leader's voice but, if Terry is to provide it, he is first going to have to command a regular place in the side. Sol Campbell's ankle injury will give him another chance to impress tomorrow and another solid showing should be enough to earn Terry a lengthy run in the team.