Heckingbottom has used two different captains in as many games as Leeds United manager.
Paul Heckingbottom says he does not know his Leeds United players well enough to decide who – if anyone – will be his permanent captain.
Heckingottom has handed the armband to Eunan O’Kane and Pablo Hernandez in his two games in charge of the Whites.
Both of those have been in the absence of regular skipper Liam Cooper, who is back from suspension for Wednesday night’s trip to Derby County.
Asked where he stands on the Leeds captaincy, Heckingbottom told the club’s official Twitter page that wearing the armband is something that must be earned.
“As it stands at the minute, I don’t know the players well enough and they don’t know me well enough to start chopping and changing things around like that,” he said.
“So I will be expecting probably more from each and every player, but going forward I think it’s a really vital role within the team, definitely, and one that should be earned and not just given. And one where you have to be able to perform not only on the pitch but away from the pitch, within the dressing room and in a manner befitting the captain.”
11th-placed Leeds are currently six points off the play-off places ahead of the Championship’s midweek matches, and must win nine or 10 of their remaining 14 in order to gatecrash the top six, according to Hernandez.
The Whites finished seventh under Garry Monk last season, their joint-highest final position since their promotion from the second tier eight years ago.
Who – if anyone – do you think should be Leeds United’s permanent captain?
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