After filing the Captains role against Crystal Palace and Portsmouth following the sale of Richard Dunne to Aston Villa, Mark Hughes has given the Ivory Coast International the role full time after impressing.

via Guardian 

The City boss said: ‘Kolo has taken the armband in the last couple of games and I am very comfortable with that.

‘He has all the attributes that you need from a good captain. He has great enthusiasm for the game, he’s vocal in the dressing room before, during and after games and he wants to drive the club forward.We’re lucky to have a lot of leaders in our squad.’

Hughes has also tipped Stephen Ireland as a future City skipper who made the shortlist in the wake of Dunne’s exit after showing leadership qualities in pre-season.

The City boss confirmed the midfielder will act as a short-term replacement for Toure  when he heads off to Angola for the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

Image via Odt