Newcastle United: Jenas, I want to be captain

By Dave Eadevic
October 29 2004

Jermaine Jenas has stated that he wants to be the next Newcastle United captain after Alan Shearer hangs up his boots. He feels at 21 years old that he now has the maturity and leadership skills that could count in the heat of battle.

Jenas said: "I would love to captain Newcastle. It's in me.

"I captained Nottingham Forest when I was 17 and the England Under-21s.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the responsibility. If someone offered me the captaincy I would grab it with both hands.

"Steve Harper was the captain against Norwich but with him being in goal the responsibility was there for me in midfield.

"It was the first 90 minutes for a few of the lads who'd been injured and so there was a responsibility on my shoulders to drive us forward.

"I felt I did that and that a lot of the players played out of their skin and did really well. I have gained a lot of experience in a short time, but I'm still young and still learning.

"Yet in certain situations I'm the most experienced player and so sometimes I might feel like I'm the old hand."

Personally I am thinking no, and leaning towards Butt or a frankly unlikely choice of Bowyer (hang on bear with me). If and judging by comments Souness made during his talk in on Radio Newcastle, it is still an if, Shearer does indeed leave at the end of the season, Bowyer could be the man to take his place.

I like his comitment and there is no doubt that he is a vocal prescence on the field, I just feel we could do worse.

Having said that I feel Given will probably be the likely choice, but, and I am in agreement with Jenas here, I don't like my captain in goal.