Joe Burnell has been appointed Oxford United's new captain.

He takes over from Adam Murray, who stepped down at the start of the week, and will lead the U's out for the first time at Kidderminster today.

And skippering a side is nothing new to the former Bristol City, Wycombe and Northampton midfielder – he has captained every club he has played at.

Burnell was named the team's on-field leader after training yesterday and was delighted.

"I'm really proud to have been asked," he said. "It's something I enjoy doing and am really looking forward to.

"It doesn't really change my game or approach because I am always happy to accept responsibility and have my say, but it's a great honour and I will give it everything for the club as usual.'

Manager Darren Patterson said: "Joe is a great professional and a real leader, and the lads are all behind him.

"It doesn't make that much difference who is captain, it's all about every player accepting responsibility once they cross the line.

"Joe is a good organiser and plays a key role. I think he will make an excellent captain."

And Patterson revealed to the Oxford Mail how there would be a change in the roles his central midfielders adopt which would make their playing roles more clearly defined and which should help the team.

He said: "I think we'll see from now Joe much more as the holding player in midfield, which he's very good at, breaking up opposition attacks.

"Adam will be further forward, where his quality of passing can be more effective for us.

"It's something we've worked on and we will probably try to stick with this if we can."

Murray has often come very deep to receive the ball from the defenders and then set up attacks – and in the away game at Ebbsfleet effectively took on the role of quarter-back, trying long balls out to left and right.

But Patterson clearly feels he can be be a more useful creator of attacks by linking more closely with the strikers, and in Burnell he has someone who is also comfortable on the ball, and in receiving passes from his defence to get moves going.

Oxford Utd's recent captains: Martin Thomas, Andy Crosby, Lee Bradbury, Chris Hargreaves, Phil Gilchrist, Barry Quinn, Adam Murray, Joe Burnell.

  • United defender Matt Day has been called into the England C squad to play in Bosnia on Tuesday.

Day was originally on stand-by for Paul Fairclough's squad but an injury to Cambridge's Danny Gleeson means the former Portsmouth player joines Luke Foster in the 16-man squad.

The squad fly out tomorrow.

Foster is eligible to play despite still being suspended for club football.