Hearts have been told Craig Gordon is the perfect player to take on the captain's armband this season.
Steven Naismith reckons his pal is the one who will officially become club captain after regularly wearing it in his absence last season.
And now the former Rangers and Kilmarnock star has retired, he reckons it would make complete sense for Gordon to take over on a permanent basis.
The goalkeeper has been vital since returning to the club but Naismith believes there will be a strong team behind him to help with leadership duties.
That includes the likes of John Souttar and Michael Smith and he reckons Robbie Neilson looks for that 'group' of leaders rather than a single individual.
He said" "When I wasn't playing or on the bench last year, it was big Craig Gordon (who would be captain) and that's what I would expect to happen.
"I think he's a natural to take over the armband officially.
"Outwith him you have some good pros who day to day in training will constantly drive the standards.
"John Souttar is one of them, Craig Halkett, you have Michael Smith, Liam Boyce - international players.
"Since coming in the manager always had that leadership group, not one or two, but four or five boys who would come to a decision on the key things the manager would want to make big calls on.
"The manager was very open with that and he liked that group, rather than an individual.
"There are a few who have come out of that group, myself, and Christophe Berra has moved on, so maybe as the season starts there may be one or two added to that.
"It is a gradual thing, one that is constantly moving."
