MICHAEL Appleton believes John Lundstram's influence will grow this season after naming him as Oxford United's new captain.

The 22-year-old was offered the role yesterday following a one-to-one meeting with the head coach at the club's training camp in Spain.

There were other candidates to inherit the armband from Jake Wright, who left the club last weekend.

But Appleton saw signs last season Lundstram had what it took to lead the side.

He said: "Last year when he spoke, people listened, but he didn’t speak enough.

"That was part of giving him the captaincy, to get him out of his shell a little bit.

"I don’t think it will affect his game.

"If I’m being honest, even when Jake was captain, Lunny was always someone I thought potentially would be a captain one day.

"That’s down to leading by example on the pitch and his footballing intelligence."

He added: "I think there were three or four players who could have quite easily been made the captain.

"With John – and this is my personal opinion – as long as he gets the right breaks at the right time I think he will play in the Premier League.

"He’s one of the top three or four passers outside the Premier League."

Appleton is yet to decide on who will be United's vice captain.