A DELIGHTED John Lundstram has been appointed Oxford United’s new captain – a job offer which the midfielder did not need to think twice about.

He replaces Jake Wright, whose five-year tenure as skipper ended last weekend when the defender was released.

At only 22, Lundstram is a young captain, but he has experience of wearing the armband for club and country.

He skippered Everton’s Under 18s and Under 21s, alongside a year in the role with England Under 19s.

So when head coach Michael Appleton offered Lundstram the chance to take over in a one-on-one meeting at the team’s training camp in Spain yesterday, there was no hesitation.

He said: “The gaffer spoke about responsibility and asked me would I want to be captain.

“I didn’t have to think twice about it – straight away I wanted to do it. It’s something I think I’ll thrive on.

“It’s a huge honour to be picked and it’s something I can’t wait to start.

“I’ve captained a couple of sides in my time and although I’m young I’d like to think I’ve got a bit of experience now.

“I would like to think I can handle it.”

Lundstram has been at United for less than a year, joining last August after being released by Everton.

While he took time to reach full fitness after a disrupted pre-season, the elegant midfielder became one of the first names on Michael Appleton’s teamsheet.

Lundstram started 42 games in United’s promotion-winning campaign, with the only sour note a sending off against Stevenage in March which meant he was suspended for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final at Wembley.

One of the elements of the job Wright took seriously was going out of his way to make new signings feel at home.

It is something Lundstram experienced last summer, and with new faces expected to fly out to the camp at La Cala, near Malaga, this week, he will suddenly be on the other side of the conversation.

He said: “Jake has been a major part of my time here, he’s helped me a lot, so I might give him a call to get a few pointers from him.

“They are big boots to fill, I don’t think I can be compared to him because he was so good, but I’ll be the best I can and hopefully I’ll help the lads out.”