Oxford United defender Rob Dickie will be the captain for the remainder of the season, manager Karl Robinson has confirmed.
The 24-year-old has skippered the side in John Mousinho’s absence through injury and has helped guide the U’s to four successive wins in the league, keeping four successive clean sheets.
But Robinson initially gave the armband to the former Reading man as the defender was just one yellow card away from a two-match suspension.
He told the Oxford Mail: “I think captains get away with one or two things.
“You very rarely see a captain getting the first one because they are the ones the referees go to speak to.
“He’s a great talker and I’m really pleased he’s taken the armband.”
Dickie still has another three games before the cut off for a tenth booking is wiped away, and although Mousinho is due back later this month, the 24-year-old will remain the skipper.
Robinson added: “We’ve used the captaincy for the right reasons at the right times.
“It’s a tremendous honour, whoever you are, to captain any club.
“When you look at the people who have worn it at this club over the last 30 years you’re in very good company.”
The U’s boss had previously rotated the captaincy with Jamie Mackie, Cameron Brannagan and James Henry having all led the side out in previous games.
But giving the defender gives some consistency as the U’s look to finish the season on a high and hope to ensure a playoff finish.
As a precaution, Robinson has recalled January singing Rob Atkinson from his loan at Eastleigh just in case Dickie does pick up another booking, which would leave Elliott Moore as the only central defender.
