Alan Pardew says he will not name Newcastle's new captain until a week before the campaign gets underway.
Magpies boss in no rush to name Nolan's successor
Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew says he will not name the club's new captain until a week before the campaign gets underway.
The Magpies are without a club captain following the surprise sale of Kevin Nolan to relegated West Ham United last month.
Pardew has a few ideas about who is likely to claim the armband, but he wants to take in pre-season and see how the squad develops before finalising his choice.
"I have ideas, but I will probably pick it with a week to go," he confirmed to the club's
official website.
"We will see how pre-season unfolds and see how the squad assembles itself, how it looks and what shape it is in.
"I will then take a view from there because it is an important role, and possibly a few players could wear the armband during the pre-season friendlies."
Number nine
The club are also without a No.9 following Andy Carroll's sale to Liverpool earlier this year and Pardew acknowledges whoever wears the jersey has a responsibility.
The likes of Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand and Andy Cole have all worn No.9 over the past two decades and Pardew, like his captaincy decision, will be leaving it as late as possible.
"The No.9 shirt is equally important. I will leave the No.9 as late as I can," he continued.
"I know just what that shirt means to this football club, but there will be a few contenders who could wear that shirt and do it justice.
"It is an important shirt and I might think of giving it to a player who doesn't get weighed down by it. I will have to assess the characters of the players to make sure that doesn't happen."
