Midfielder Harry Arter will try to provide a “positive voice” on the pitch for Nottingham Forest - whether he’s wearing the captain’s armband or not.
Lewis Grabban has been selected to lead the side by new boss Chris Hughton, having been picked as one of four skippers under previous head coach Sabri Lamouchi.
When the striker has been substituted, though, he has passed on the captaincy to summer signing Arter.
It is an honour the former Bournemouth man has not held before, but he says it makes little difference to the impact he tries to have whenever he plays, regardless.
“I’ve never been a captain before,” Arter told NottinghamshireLive.
“Grabbs just gave me the armband against Blackburn.
“It was something that I’ve never really thought about, being captain. I just always try to help the team as much as I can.
“The older I’ve got, the more I’ve realised how important a voice can be on the pitch.
“Even if I’m not playing particularly well or the team isn’t playing particularly well, just a positive voice can make a difference - someone to keep encouraging and keep the team going.
“Especially with no fans here at the minute, I think a voice is so important to create a sort of atmosphere and a positivity that you do get off the fans.
“I’m just trying to help.
“The manager hasn’t said anything about it. Grabbs just decided. He probably thought I was being positive when I came on. He just looked around and gave it to me.
“I’ve known Grabbs for years and he knows the sort of character I am.
“Grabbs is the captain of the team, so it’s his decision when he’s on the pitch.
“If he felt I was the best choice then I thank him for that.”
Arter made the move to the City Ground while Lamouchi was still in charge, and made his fifth appearance for the Reds in Friday night’s 1-1 draw at home to Derby County.
That was his first start under Hughton, and he played a part in making it three games unbeaten for the new manager.
The 30-year-old says he has quickly settled into life at Forest and is determined to help strengthen the sense of unity in the changing room.
“I think the fans not being here does make a massive difference,” he said.
“We have to really get that atmosphere on the pitch between us as a group.
“It hasn’t taken much, because it’s a really good group of lads.
“There’s a togetherness. I wasn’t surprised, because you always hope when you go to a new team that there’s a good changing room.
“But there is genuinely a really good changing room here and a really nice set of lads.
“It was an easy transition coming into the group.
“You just want to create even more togetherness. Anything positive you can do together, always helps with that. It will breed even more confidence in the group.
“There’s some lads who are a bit quieter on the pitch, some lads require being spoken to, some don’t like it - it’s just trying to work out what’s best for the players.
“But ultimately, positivity within the team can only help.”
