Hull City v Chelsea: JOHN TERRY yesterday pleaded his case to Fabio Capello's staff and should know by the end of the week whether he will retain the England captaincy in the wake of the avalanche of criticism which has greeted allegations he had an affair with the former girlfriend of his international team-mate Wayne Bridge.

Terry has made contact with Capello’s right-hand man, Franco Baldini, who in his capacity as general manager will speak to both players before meeting Capello on Friday in a bid to draw a line under an affair that threatens to have a hugely destabilising effect in the run-up to the World Cup.

Capello, who has been in Switzerland following surgery on his knee, is due back in England on Thursday and will meet Baldini the following day to assess the damage to team morale. There is believed to be a desire to publicly address the issue ahead of the weekend, when both will travel to Warsaw for the Euro 2012 qualifying draw.

Capello and Baldini are believed to be deeply unimpressed with Terry’s latest public indiscretions but want to hear from him and Bridge before choosing whether to strip the defender of the captaincy.

The FA hierarchy are believed to be leaving the timing of a decision to Capello and Baldini and will back his decision.

Terry, who will tonight turn out for Chelsea against Hull City, yesterday declined to comment. Bridge (29), has said he does not intend to comment on the reports for the sake of his son.

Meanwhile, Manchester United are ready to risk Rio Ferdinand's place in the League Cup final by lodging a second appeal against his suspension for striking Hull City's Craig Fagan. Ferdinand received a four-match ban from the FA last week after being found guilty of violent conduct during United's 4-0 win on January 23rd. An extra game was added by the disciplinary panel for what it deemed a "frivolous" appeal. GuardianService