Russell Martin reveals latest on Southampton FC captaincy

Both players have been trialled as captain having signed permanently this summer following successful loan spells last season. 

Martin insisted that club captain Jack Stephens, who is yet to feature in pre-season, will keep the armband when involved on the pitch.

The boss spoke to Adam Armstrong, who was captain in Stephens' absence last season, about his desire to pass the armband around before the Premier League campaign gets underway.

Martin also pointed towards summer returnee Adam Lallana as an important leader who can help the likes of Downes and Harwood-Bellis become more vocal.

Jack Stephens will still wear the armband when in action (Image: Matt Watson / Southampton FC)

Downes has previously spent time as Ipswich Town captain and wore the armband on occasion at Swansea, while Harwood-Bellis is England under-21 skipper.

READ MORE: Saints progressing in talks to sign Villarreal's Brereton Diaz

READ MORE: Martin 'hopeful' in Fraser transfer update but accepts Saints could move on

Speaking to the Daily Echo at Southampton's Spain training camp, he said: "They're both our players now, so that's important.

"They were loan players and I think it's really difficult to really try and take a leadership role.

"They both did it really brilliantly, actually. They became leaders in their own right. I spoke to Arma about it. I spoke to Jack about it.

"Jack's not been in a pitch yet. So he'll wear the armband when he's on the pitch. He's the captain. When he's not, I just want to have a look at other people.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis has worn the armband during pre-season (Image: Southampton FC)

"I think having Adam Lallana in for the first few weeks of training and seeing his voice has helped them guys.

"It's helped them understand we are a very young, quiet team on the whole. But already giving him the armband, having more voice from Flynn, more aggression.

"We saw it the other day. I enjoyed it. Taylor, the same. He needs to add real voice to his game. You've got Janny who adds voice. Jack adds voice when he plays.

"It's about asking the young guys to step up as much as possible and seeing how they adapt and take on the armband as well.

"(We want to) give them a good test of character to see if anything changes, how they take to it. Obviously, it might get passed around a few more times this pre-season.

"But, yeah, we've been happy with them too and we've seen what it's given them."