KARL Robinson hailed Curtis Nelson’s response to losing the captain’s armband after the defender stood out in the goalless draw at Wycombe Wanderers.

The teamsheet at Adams Park brought a surprise when it showed John Mousinho was the skipper.

Nelson was given the armband in July 2017 after John Lundstram’s departure, but a lack of progress on talks over a new contract prompted Robinson to make a big decision.

Before the game, the head coach said: “We’ve been having negotiations since the back end of season with Nelse over a contract.

“We’re fine, there’s no problems and once it’s resolved things will move forward.”

He added: “It is pressure, captaining a club.

“While we’re talking about contracts and results aren’t going great then maybe that release might help him or give him that bit between his teeth to improve more.”

And Robinson could scarcely have hoped for a better reaction from the centre back, who was superb in United’s first clean sheet of the Sky Bet League One season.

“He was outstanding,” he said. “He was a leader, not in a vocal way, but in the way he performed to the best of his ability and was a team player.”

What happens next is unclear, with Robinson hinting the role could be rotated.

It seems Mousinho will have it for at least the short-term, but there is another candidate.

Robinson said: “I think a great captain would be Easty (Simon Eastwood). He’s committed his future to the club, is the best keeper in the league, but I can’t have a captain sat in the stands injured.”

The goalkeeper could be back sooner than expected, though.

The U’s boss said: “We’ve had some great news on him. We’ve had a new specialist decision and it’s been brought forward by three weeks.”