Fabio Capello dropped the broadest hint yet that Joe Hart will find a place in his World Cup squad.

Meanwhile, despite losing the captain's armband at Wembley, it appears John Terry is intent on making the correct response to being dumped as England captain.

Claims from the Terry camp that he would jump at the chance to do the job again, allied to his post-dismissal announcement that he would continue to give everything for his country, do not suggest disillusionment, no matter how shattering the blow Capello dealt the 29-year-old.

Capello's next task, in which he will be assisted by trusted number two Franco Baldini, is to try and keep Wayne Bridge on board.

Manchester City visit Chelsea on February 27, the day before Capello announces his squad for the friendly with Egypt on March 3.

Bridge will have been spoken to before that, just as Baldini contacted the full-back yesterday to confirm his former Stamford Bridge team-mate had lost the job he coveted so much.

Capello must hope that action, in addition to the vow of silence taken by Bridge's former girlfriend and mother of his young son, Vanessa Perroncel, and a fortnight of calm, will be enough to convince the defender he can share a dressing room with Terry.

The calculated gamble Capello took yesterday was to restore an element of respectability to the England captain's role after Terry's alleged affair with Perroncel, while leaving his World Cup squad intact.

And, while there is a possibility Bridge would not make it if Capello decides to lose a couple of orthodox defenders to allow him more flexibility elsewhere, the former Southampton man has been the long-standing back-up to Ashley Cole at left-back.

At the very worst it means Bridge would be a key man should Cole get injured at some point before June.

Capello is such a clear thinker, Terry's personal torment will not have deflected him too much from the task of formulating that 23-man World Cup squad.

Today is the second anniversary of his first game in charge - a 2-1 win over Switzerland at Wembley - and Capello headed to Warsaw for the qualifying draw for Euro 2012.

He will no doubt have to answer more questions about Terry tomorrow. But he will also be eager for news on the domestic front, particularly on Hart, who has been such a key man in Birmingham's season so far.

Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce will have put in a good word given he was the man who took him to Manchester City from Shrewsbury in 2006 when he was still involved in club management.

Hart eventually went on to become Blues' first-choice keeper until Shay Given arrived, shunting him out of the team and into the wilderness until Birmingham offered a solution by taking the 22-year-old on loan for a year.

"Hart is having a fantastic season," said Capello.

"He is in good form now. Franco went to see him and he has seen a great improvement.

"Before he made mistakes but he makes fewer now because he plays regularly and has more confidence."

Capello continues to insist it is too early to make decisions and is not worried about his goalkeeping options.

However, after starting the last two England games, Ben Foster's chances are receding fast.

An anticipated move away from Manchester United never materialised after Sir Alex Ferguson blocked a loan move last month for the former Watford man and with Edwin van der Sar back and Tomasz Kuszczak established as the Dutchman's number two, Foster can look forward to the odd game at most over the season's final weeks.

"It is very difficult for Foster because he is not playing," said Capello.

There looks like being cause for celebration at Aston Villa too as James Milner's place in Capello's plans is looking more secure by the week.

Little wonder Villa are wanting to discuss a new contract as the 24-year-old is now excelling in central midfield after doing equally well on the left until Stewart Downing got over his long-standing knee injury.

"James Milner is a fantastic player," said Capello.

"I saw Martin O'Neill in Marbella during pre-season and we spoke about Downing and I asked about Milner.

"He has improved more than any other player in the squad.

"He is intelligent on the pitch. He passes the ball well. He creates goals and scores himself.

"He is a lot like Frank Lampard, younger, but with great energy."