Captain Keogh!

Richard Keogh will be the Derby County captain going into Friday night’s opener against Sunderland after Gary Rowett announced earlier this week he would not offer the role to any of his new signings.

Speculation about who would wear the armband surrounded new signings Curtis Davies and Tom Huddlestone but Keogh will continue in the role going into the new season. Rowett, talking to the Derby Evening Telegraph said:

‘I have not had a reason in the nine games of last season and in pre-season to suddenly say to Rich ‘I don’t think you are now good enough to be captain. The obvious candidate would be Curtis, but for me Curtis will play like he does anyway. It is a piece of material around your arm. People do tend to put too much emphasis on it. I am not saying you could give it to anyone and it not make a difference but for me Curtis will be a leader and a captain and I would expect Scotty Carson to be a talker and a leader, I expect Richard Keogh too, I would expect Tom Huddlestone too and I would expect Chris Martin to be at the top end of the pitch.’