George Campbell: Captaining West Brom 'great honour' but we all need to step up

The United States defender was handed the armband by boss James Morrison for Saturday’s success in the final friendly of pre-season at Peterborough.

Morrison is still to confirm his decision on Albion’s new club captain after Jed Wallace’s exit. Alex Mowatt, previously vice-captain, has been captain for most of pre-season but did not start against the Posh. Fellow long-serving midfielder Jayson Molumby was in from the off, but Morrison handed the responsibility to Campbell.

The central defender has been at The Hawthorns for just 12 months and the captain’s armband, even for a friendly, is a nod to his standing and authority within the Baggies ranks. Campbell, who only turned 25 over the summer, is very well regarded among Baggies staff.

“Of course, it's a great honour,” Campbell told the Express & Star.

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“It's a massive club, like everyone knows. It's a great honour and I'm proud of that.”

Campbell insisted, however, that a significant step up is required when it comes to experienced players.

With boss Morrison at the helm, the expectation is a clear improvement on last season’s torrid relegation battle.

He added: “But at the same time, I think the team needs everyone to step up.

“All of the senior players who've got a lot of games under their belt in their career. We all need to step up, especially more than we did last year.

“I think we need everyone to be a leader on and off the field. I think the voices are going to be massive this year, on and off the field.

“Of course, it's an honour to wear it for the first time for the club but I think, just in general, we need to all step up and take it by the scruff of the neck just to be leaders.”

“I'm super proud of it,” added the one-cap US defender of the captaincy. “Obviously it's nothing that you ever as a player want to get your head or change your outlook on other players or on yourself.

“I still need to be critical of myself. I can do better. I can be a better leader. Others can as well.

“I think it's more just to hold myself and others accountable and they need to do the same. It could just be my turn today or it could be my turn later, but I just need to try to take it as it goes each day of my day.”

Campbell made 41 Albion appearances in his debut campaign, including 33 Championship starts - many out of position at right-back, where he won credit for battling displays.

But his move to centre-back in the spring coincided with the 10-match unbeaten run to safety under Morrison as Campbell and Nat Phillips forged a water-tight partnership.

He explained that playing as the left of two central defenders is still a challenge he is grappling with.

“Obviously, when I signed here, I’d been playing in MLS a lot as a centre-back,” he added. “I came to play as a centre-back and obviously that's always been my vision, at least at the club.

“It feels nice to be back in position. I think every time I've played centre-back, it's been on the left for the most part.

“I think it's just a matter of developing my game on that side. Before I came, I was mostly playing right centre-back and I think I've developed a bit and I need to keep going.

“I think playing with Nat mostly has complemented me very well. I love playing with him.

“On the individual standpoint, I think I have a lot to improve, especially on my left side. I just look forward to keeping that going this year and hopefully trying to keep a spot there.”