Ryan Mason's stance on West Brom captaincy and leaders as departure opens void

The Baggies saw long-serving vice-captain Kyle Bartley, 34, forced to retire from playing at the end of last week after he failed to recover from a knee injury.

Club captain Jed Wallace has played second-fiddle to Tom Fellows for almost two years but remains an influential figure around the club.

It is expected that the club's next longest servant Darnell Furlong will fill the vice-captain role - and wore the armband in pre-season as well as against Blackburn in Saturday's curtain-raiser. Mason, however, argues success will only come via more leadership.

"We had a player on the pitch with an armband today, but I certainly don't want one or two captains in my team," Mason said.

"Darnell is one of the senior players. Obviously, he's been here a long time.

"There's plenty of other players that I consider leaders and we need to try and harness that and grow that within the group because it's important."

Right-back Furlong was suspended for Tuesday night's EFL Cup first round penalty defeat and Alex Mowatt, 30, took the armband. He has been with the club since 2021.

In an interview while on the club's pre-season camp in Austria, Mason called on other senior members of his squad to step up and take more responsibility.

Former boss Tony Mowbray said at the end of his short second stint in charge in April that there was otherwise not enough leadership and voice in the group.

Summer defensive recruit from Liverpool Nat Phillips was targeted to bring a leading voice.

"I think the reality is when you have a successful changing room, you have more than one captain, more than two captains," added the head coach.

"You have people that are all at different stages of their career but take responsibility and grow in their personality and that's going to be the message.

"Yes, we have some senior figures but also the younger players need to bring that energy and that drive as well."

Asked about seeing a response from a leadership and bravery perspective against Blackburn, Mason said: "I think we need to understand we need to fight for each other.

"And you don't get anything in life, even outside of football, that you really want unless you work for it.

"You put time, you put energy and sacrifice into it. And it's no different on the football pitch."