Davies Heaps Praise On Bird’s Development Wearing The Captain’s Armband

Derby County’s Curtis Davies has nothing but praise for the job that Max Bird has been doing as captain in his absence.

Bird has taken on the responsibility of the armband in recent months after the experienced defender sustained a knee injury that kept him out of action until mid-December.

It’s a role that the 22-year-old has flourished in and now, honourably, Davies believes that it’s one that the midfielder made his own.

“If I’m totally honest, I see Max as the on-pitch captain,” said Davies in his programme column for this weekend’s Sky Bet League One home fixture against Bolton Wanderers (3pm kick-off).

“He’s played all the games; he’s been part of it and is an integral part of what we do. Being a midfielder, he can dictate the game from how he plays alongside Conor Hourihane.

“I’m happy for him to hold the armband if I come onto the field from the bench. It means nothing for me to come on and steal the armband and show: ‘Oh, I’m the captain.’ I believe that I display my leadership skills whether I am wearing the armband or not.

“I will always show my leadership skills whether I’m on the bench or not. If I’m not playing, I’ll be in the changing room telling the lads the same as if I’m on the pitch with them. That doesn’t change for me and my role doesn’t change, but for Birdy it’s good for him to have that responsibility and it’ll only make him grow.”

“I think from having the armband, we have seen a different side to him,” he added.

“He’s taken the responsibility of the captaincy on board a lot more than maybe before when he had the armband here and there. The fact he’s been our captain for the last 15/20 games shows how good a player he is and how he’s growing in stature from it.”

Captaincy is a role that Bird is used to having held the armband throughout numerous age brackets prior to making the step-up to the first-team squad.

Taking up such a title within a squad full of senior professionals is a different kettle of fish though and could have been daunting, but Davies believes that Bird has taken his experience of managing the younger players into the first-team squad in his stride.

“I’ve been on record previously saying he’s always been the captain of the young lads,” Davies. explained.

“I know he was the captain of younger age groups, but I mean it in terms of the way he gets them together. If there’s something happening and some of the younger boys don’t know what’s going on, he’ll be the one to organise them.

“If we’re going on a team do, he’ll make sure his group – like Louie Sibley, Liam Thompson and Eiran Cashin – are all together and get to the right place. He’s the skipper of the young lads anyway and the skipper of us all now in that respect.

“It’s about supporting him in that role. I’ll still continue to say my bits and do what I do but, like I said earlier and after a few periods out injured, I look at Max Bird as the on-field captain really.”