Away fixtures for the national side offer a stern test of will, concentration and commitment, so that’s where a determined captain comes in. Luckily, England have John Terry wearing the armband, the Chelsea defender winning almost 70 caps for his country and providing rock-solid support from the back. Ahead of the vital Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria tomorrow night, we spoke to JT about tough away fixtures and the new blue England away shirt. Here’s what he had to say…

You certainly look committed in these England away photos! Was it a tough shoot to do?

‘There was a lot of shouting going on! But the guys in the studio are good at getting you comfortable and relaxed so you can get into it. So I think it worked well and it comes across in the pictures, which look great.’

What do you think of the new England Away shirt?

‘I think it’s really nice, actually. I know it’s been red and white for a while, but I think it’s nice to have a change at times, and the colour for this shirt looks great. It’s really smart when you put it on as well, so I think the fans will like it when they get to see it up close.’

You’ll be used to wearing a blue shirt with your club, does that help?

‘The fact that it’s a blue shirt is an added bonus for me, as I’m used to wearing them! It might be different for some of the other boys in the squad who are used to playing in red, but for us Chelsea boys it’ll be a nice touch, and I’m looking forward to winning some games while I’m wearing it.’

We’re heading towards the final set of Euro 2012 qualifiers, are you looking forward to getting back into some competitive internationals?

‘I think everyone in the squad realises that we’ve still got some way to go before we’re qualified. Although I’m the one wearing the armband, there’s plenty of people in the squad that will keep us on our toes for the games against Bulgaria and Wales and the rest of our qualifying fixtures. We’re in a good position, but the job isn’t finished yet, and we want to make sure we get as many points as possible.’

Some of the away fixtures are in some tough places to play, is it intimidating for players to travel to these places?

‘No, not really, because wherever we play we know that our fans will travel in big numbers and lend their support. Even in these intense atmospheres away from home, we’re lucky to have some terrific support from the England fans, making themselves heard, which is always welcome. And if we make it to Poland and the Ukraine next year, I’m sure the fans will be there again offering us that level of support, which is a great thing to know that it’s there.’

How does an intense atmosphere affect the game – does it increase the pressure?

‘I think naturally, when you’re playing at the top level week in week out, then you get that kind of pressure in every game you play. With England, we’re lucky in that a lot of the squad experience that with their clubs, so when it comes to these games, they’re used to it. The reason we’re at these clubs is because we can handle this pressure, and yeah, I do enjoy it, there’s nothing better than coming off the field knowing you’ve done well and shown everyone what we’re capable of.’

Do you have any particular favourites when it comes to away fixtures with the national side?

‘It’s difficult to choose one to be honest, as there’s been so many that stand out. As I said before, just coming off the field having won the game, even when sometimes you’ve had to grind out the result, that’s the best feeling you can ask for as a player.’

Thanks to John for taking the time to speak to us, and good luck to all the squad for tomorrow’s game. The new England Away shirt is on sale now, you can order it directly at www.umbro.com.