Hodgson has named four uncapped players in his squad for next week’s international friendly against Norway (Source: AP)

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney was named the new captain of England on Thursday.

Rooney, who succeeds Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard, will lead his country in a friendly against Norway on Sept. 3 and their opening Euro 2016 qualifier against Switzerland on Sept. 8.

Coach Roy Hodgson made the announcement at a media conference at Wembley as he unveiled his squad for the forthcoming fixtures.

“I gave it a lot of thought but Wayne is an obvious choice,” Hodgson told reporters.

“He deserves it – his commitment to the cause, his experience. He has captained England in the past and, of course, he has that responsibility at Manchester United now.

“I’ve had a long conversation with him and he’s prepared to accept the pressures that the England captaincy brings. It’s important that the player wants to take on that enormous responsibility.”

Uncapped quartet

Hodgson has named four uncapped players in his squad for next week’s international friendly against Norway and the Euro 2016 qualifier in Switzerland.

Arsenal’s 19-year-old defender Calum Chambers will be joined by Jack Colback of Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur’s Danny Rose and Aston Villa’s Fabian Delph, all aged 24, as the new faces in the 22-man squad.

England host Norway at Wembley on Wednesday before they start their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign away to Switzerland on Sept.8.

“It will be exciting but there will be some anxious moments to see how these players step up,” Hodgson told a news conference on Thursday.

“We’ve been a bit unlucky in our first qualifier, it is arguably our hardest one (Switzerland away) and these players may not get the soft introduction they may have had.

“I don’t think there is any reason for intrepidation. With these players we are bringing into the squad, and don’t forget there’s no Theo Walcott, Ross Barkley or Adam Lallana, I see no reason for us to be fearful.”

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City)

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Calum Chambers (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Everton)

Midfielders: Jack Colback (Newcastle United), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Forwards: Rickie Lambert (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)