John Carver has warned Fabricio Coloccini he faces being replaced by Daryl Janmaat as Newcastle United’s captain next season and told him he has a point to prove at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Newcastle’s head coach was upset by his key centre-half’s recent sending-off at Everton and consequent three-match suspension, which left him with only one fit centre-half in Mike Williamson.
“Leadership is something that has to be addressed by the football club,” said Carver. “We need to give the captaincy to somebody who is responsible, who is a leader. The players will follow a leader, and they have to have discipline on and off the pitch. Captains have to lead by example. When you are captain of this football club you have to do things right. I would definitely review the situation in the summer.”
Carver suggested Janmaat, the Holland right-back who has filled in at centre-half lately, may succeed Coloccini. “I’d be tempted to make Daryl captain next season because he’s a proper leader,” he said. “He’s got character, strength, he’s good around the dressing room. He has a good presence around the place. Whatever you ask him to do he’ll do it.”
For the moment at least, though, Coloccini will keep the armband. “Colo will be captain on Sunday,” said Carver, whose side have lost their past five games and retain relegation fears, albeit remote.
“If it was me I’d want to prove a point. If it was me who had been sent off and I was captain I’d want to perform for the next six games because we’ve had to reshuffle the back four because of it. I expect a response from Colo. He’s a top professional and I think I’ll get one. He’s been very supportive and has worked very hard during the time he’s been suspended. He hasn’t had any extra time off.”
