Nottingham Forest manager Aitor Karanka has confirmed that new signing Ben Watson will captain the club until the end of the season. 

His match as captain ended in a 0-0 draw against bottom side Burton Albion in a match where Forest had to dig in as they were forced to play for over an hour with ten men following Eric Lichaj's dismissal for a reckless first half tackle.

Making a new signing captain can split opinion but former Watford man Watson has had his say on being handed the armband.

He emphasised the importance of having leaders throughout the dressing room and that is what Forest will need as they look to break a run which has seen their attack struggle badly in front of goal.

He told the Nottingham Post: "The armband is just the armband. In the changing room you need five or six players who are going to be a voice, who are going to help players.

"It is not just on a match day either. It is every day. It is in training; setting standards every day, making sure they remain high and that they are there for others to look at and follow.

"On the pitch, on game day, you don’t just want one or two leaders, you want five or six. I feel now, with the experience we have got in the dressing room, that will happen for us.

"It will help the young lads. It does help them. At times they are looking up and the first people they look to are the experienced boys. We need to make sure that there are not just one or two, but six or seven of us, who can provide that."

The Verdict

I don't necessarily agree with making a new signing captain straight away as I feel it can unsettle a dressing room but there is no doubt that Watson is a model pro and Karanka will hope that rubs off on his younger players.

Watson is also right when he says that Forest need leaders all over the pitch if they are to break their recent poor run.

Forest fans - what are your thoughts on your new captain? Let us know in the comments below...