Jack Ross has given George Honeyman his backing to continue as Sunderland captain this season.
The Black Cats boss appointed the academy product to the role last summer - making him the club's first homegrown regular captain since Micky Gray in the early 2000s - ahead of more senior professionals such as Lee Cattermole and Glenn Loovens , with Ross praising Honeyman for his maturity, attitude, and intelligence.
And while Ross' squad remains still very much a work in progress this summer, he has already decided that the 24-year-old will retain the armband this term.
He said: "The on-field role is one that intrigues me a little bit because people maybe overestimate how much influence you can have on the park as captain - especially when you play in noisy stadiums.
"I think it is more about the standards you set every day, how you conduct yourself, the example that you set for the other players at the club.
"The other players around you are also important.
"George has Glenn Loovens, Grant Leadbitter , and last season he had Lee Cattermole.
"George has grown in the role and I am very comfortable with him as captain."
For his part, Honeyman has frequently spoken of his pride at captaining the club which he joined as a 10-year-old academy recruit.
Last season he twice skippered the club at Wembley, in the EFL Trophy final and in the League One Play-off Final, but was on the losing side both times.
He made his senior debut for the club in February 2015 and has since gone on to play almost 100 times for the Wearsiders, scoring 15 goals in all competitions.
