DJ To Lead By Example

Damien Johnson has been named as Blues’ new captain for the coming season.

The Northern Ireland international won both the Blues’ player of the year and the players’ player of the year last season wore the coverted armband for the first time in our 5-1 win against Burton Albion.

Speaking to the press following his choice, Steve Bruce said:

‘He’s quiet – I don’t think you will get many interviews out of him as the club spokesman!

‘Maybe we will have to have a club captain and a team captain. That’s one thing I will have to look at because he’s not comfortable doing that sort of thing.

‘Yet he’s a fantastic pro. If they were all like Jonty, then a manager’s job would be easy. He conducts himself magnificently. He leads from the front. Anything you ask him to do is not a problem and managing him for the last four-and-a-half years, he has been a terrific servant to the club.

‘He may not be the most vociferous, but he leads by example. Every day in training, the way he plays in matches, he’s magnificent.

‘Even on Saturday when he came on to the right-hand side after we made a couple of substitutions, he was the one who was doing it properly – that’s the way he is.

‘His response? Absolutely delighted and honoured. He was also a little bit shocked.

‘I thought, maybe, because of the way he is – a quiet type – he might decline. But he didn’t. He’s accepted the responsibility of it and I’m sure he will be a very, very good captain for us.’

It remains to be seen if Upson will regain command of the armband when he returns to the squad from injury, as he was Cunningham’s understudy.