Making Britt Assombalonga Middlesbrough captain against Plymouth Argyle shows Neil Warnock’s intentions to encourage more leadership

“They seem a genuine bunch,” was the manager’s initial assessment ahead of his first game in charge back in June. “They’ve all worked really hard and listened to what I’ve asked of them.”

Yet there’s been a perception over the last few months that perhaps this group of players are a bit too nice. Who’s the one who will call team-mates out when they make a mistake? Who’s the one who will keep others in line when the going gets tough?

That’s not to say players can’t be accomodating off the pitch, yet there clearly needs to be a bit of steel and forcefulness on it.

Boro have seemed to lack those qualities since Grant Leadbitter’s departure in January 2019 – a vocal midfield operator who would keep everyone in check.

Of course being a good leader isn’t just about being the loudest, although it’s often said a captain is the manager’s voice on the field.

A successful skipper will also lead by example in the way they train, perform and keep standards high.

Boro’s former captain George Friend met a lot of the desired criteria, yet injuries restricted the defender to making just 14 league appearances last term.

Even so, Friend was a key player under Warnock for the final eight games of the season, and the 32-year-old’s departure to Birmingham City has caused a dilemma.

Last season Jonny Howson led the side in Friend’s absence, while the midfielder has often been hailed as a model professional and good role model.

Yet, by his own admission, Howson isn’t the loudest player in the dressing room, even if he has tried to be more vocal in recent months.

New signing Grant Hall will also be a candidate for the Boro captaincy – a role he occupied at QPR last term.

But Warnock will need all his senior players to be extroverts and take more responsibility this season, especially due to the club’s lack of signings this summer.

During Tuesday’s friendly win at Plymouth, Warnock handed Britt Assombalona the armband, a decision which came as a shock to the striker.

Speaking to the club’s website after the 1-0 win, Assombalonga said: “I am one of the more experienced ones in the group now so he gave me the armband and said ‘you’re wearing this today’.

“And everyone’s looking at me like ‘huh?’ - I was shocked as well!

“But he knows what he’s doing and if he felt like I was to wear it then so be it. It was nice to wear it.”

Whether Assombalonga will keep the armband remains to be seen, yet this week’s decision shows Warnock’s intentions.

Of course the Boro boss would like to have a few more natural leaders, like centre-back Sean Morrison who was his skipper at Cardiff and ‘didn’t leave a stone unturned.’

Yet Warnock enjoys the challenge of improving players, and will be keen to address an area which clearly needs strengthening.

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