Mowbray mulling over captaincy

Mowbray: Keeping options open

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Tony Mowbray says Stephen McManus is not guaranteed to be club captain again this season.

While new manager Mowbray believes the 26-year-old Scotland international fits his criteria for the job he feels there are others in his squad who are also capable of excelling in the role.

The former West Brom boss now plans on having talks with the club's long-serving player to ascertain whether he wishes to retain the armband and how the job affects his game.

Mowbray has also suggested some of his summer targets could also come into contention of landing the role should he be able to bring their services to Parkhead.

Impact

"I don't know Stephen's own thoughts on it," Mowbray told the Sunday Mail. "I'll see what he thinks, how much that decision would impact on him, positively or negatively.

"I haven't seen any reason why Stephen doesn't fit all the criteria. He is a very imposing man and he seems like a gentleman.

"Captaincy is important for the standards you set. At a club like this, he has to lead by example in his manner on and off the field and Stephen seems as though he has the capabilities to deal with all those things no problem.

"But I would suggest there are one or two others within the club who might also fit that criteria and there might also be one or two signings that fit it as well."