West Brom goalkeeper Scott Carson will continue as Baggies captain in the Premier League, and admits: “There is an extra onus on me.”
The 24-year-old wore the armband for last season’s promotion-winning campaign in the Championship – and Baggies boss Roberto Di Matteo has told him to carry on being captain for the forthcoming top-flight tilt.
Carson took over the captaincy following Jonathan Greening’s move to Fulham – and has thrived on the extra responsibility.
The news will be a big lift for the England stopper as he faces competition for his place between the sticks from new £1.5million signing Boaz Myhill.
And Carson admits he is “proud and delighted” to continue leading the team as they bid for Premier League survival following several seasons of yo-yoing between the top two divisions.
The former Liverpool custodian told the club’s official website: “I have a good relationship with the gaffer and am delighted and very proud.
“I can’t really answer how being captain has changed me – but there is an extra onus on me.
“The gaffer will tell me what’s happening and sometimes I have to tell the players something they don’t want to hear.”
With Carson only being 24, he is captaining several players superior to him in terms of both age and experience.
But he added: “The armband might have gone to one of the players with a bit more experience but the gaffer must have seen something in me that makes him think I can do the job well and he wants me to carry on – that’s great for me on a personal level.”
