Erik ten Hag insists Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes can continue to share captaincy duties at Manchester United, with the central defender set to take the armband back at Nottingham Forest today.
With Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez both out injured, Maguire will make his 14th start of the season at the City Ground and with his return to the starting XI comes the armband, with the England international still club captain at United.
It will be just the sixth time Maguire has been captain for a Premier League game this season, with Bruno Fernandes the skipper for the other 22.
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Fernandes has worn the armband when Maguire has been out of the side this season, but Ten Hag insists what is essentially a job share isn't an issue and that both parties know what their role is, with the respect between the duo vital to making the situation work.
"They deal with it in togetherness, one is wearing the band, we accept it the way it is, they respect each other and do it through togetherness. I think it works out so far," he said.
Ten Hag has regularly repeated his desire for United to have more leaders this season and he named David de Gea, Varane and Casemiro as players who bring that to the squad.
The Dutchman also believes Martinez, who followed him to Old Trafford from Ajax in the summer, has also developed his leadership skills this season.
"A team needs more leaders, you need a group of leaders," said Ten Hag.
"Those are two [Maguire and Fernandes] but we have more, Rapha Varane, Casemiro, David de Gea, also Licha Martinez developed really well in that perspective. We have more."
United are starting to battle injury issues at a crucial juncture of their season. Varane and Martinez will join Tom Heaton, Donny van de Beek, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho on the sidelines this week, while Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay face late fitness tests.
But Ten Hag is urging the rest of his squad to step in the absence of key players, with today's trip to the East Midlands followed by the Europa League quarter-final second leg in Seville and next weekend's FA Cup semi-final against Brighton at Wembley.
"All clubs have to deal with having key players missing, but then other players are coming in," said the United manager.
"Of course, you always want to play your best, especially when you are in the final stages (of the season) but when they are not available others have to do it and I think we proved it when they are not there.
"Last week we were discussing who has to score the goals and Marcel Sabitzer scored two (against Sevilla). We talk a lot about Casemiro. We proved we can play without him against Brentford and Everton. We can play without him and win difficult and important games.
"We have to deal with it and we will do. It is also the case that when players drop out others have to take over and take the responsibility."
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