Howson will wear armband from now on, says Warnock

JONNY Howson will be Middlesbrough captain going forward, with Neil Warnock feeling it was the right time to make the change.

Britt Assombalonga was given the armband at the start of the season but has had a difficult campaign as his contract at the club runs down.

And despite coming back into the starting line-up in the draw against Cardiff City, it was Howson, below, who wore the armband as he usually has when the Dr Congo striker is absent.

Asked after the game about the captaincy situation, Warnock explained why he felt the time was right to give Howson the armband permanently.

He said: “I think the time has come now for Jonny to take the reins.

“I had a chat with Britt and he understood and agreed in the circumstances and just to concentrate on his game really.”

Assombalonga has just five goals this season as he once again went without a goal in the draw against Cardiff. To put that into context, Bluebirds centre-back Sean Morrison netted his fifth of the season when he put his side ahead at the Riverside.

And with Ashley Fletcher facing two to three weeks out with an injury, Warnock could really do with Assombalonga focusing on the goalscoring side of his game now.

He has to score after Murphy puts chance on a plate