The Captain's Table

JOHN Sheridan believes that Curtis Nelson will be a captain of captains during Argyle’s 2014-15 Sky Bet League 2 campaign.

The 21-year-old centre-back was formerly appointed as departed Conor Hourihane’s successor this week, with new man Peter Hartley named as his deputy and Luke McCormick given the role of club captain.

“It will benefit Curtis,” said John. “Giving him the captain’s armband will hopefully give him more confidence in what I think of him, for one. He will have to lead the group and he’s got it in him. It’ll hopefully make him more vocal, more of an organiser.

“Peter Hartley has already got that in his game. I can see that in training. I did always say I’d like to have three or four captains on the pitch – I think Coxy [Lee Cox] can talk; Reuben [Reid] talks; all defensive players and the ’keeper normally talk. I think that will benefit us more.

“He plays in a position where a majority of teams have their captain. He was captain on a couple of occasions last year. I’m not bothered if he’s 21. He could be 37. It will stand him in good stead for the future. He’s got all the qualities to be a captain.”

Peter, 26, has already created an impact at Home Park since leaving Stevenage in the summer, not least of all on the less experienced members of the Pilgrims’ first-team squad such as first-year professional Aaron Bentley, a fellow defender.

“I am very pleased with him,” said John. “He’s very good with the likes of the younger players – including young Bentley – who he hasn’t met before. He really encourages them all the time.

“He’s very good on the training-ground and I’m sure he’ll take that on to the pitch. The lads like him; he’s approachable; he’s always praising and giving good advice in and around the young players.”

Luke’s club-captain role will be more of an organisational off-field one.

“It gives Luke a bit of responsibility,” said John, of his 30-year-old.  “A lot of the lads look up to him; he’s very experienced; and I think he’s just got that demeanour about him.

“He’s good to deal with other things in situations that happen in and around the club. If the offices need to speak to the players, Luke will deal with that and come to me.”