JACK ROSS insists the decision to appoint Grant Leadbitter as Sunderland’s new club captain was not a case of the heart ruling the head, and expects the midfielder to play an influential role both on and off the pitch this season.

Leadbitter has replaced Lee Cattermole as Sunderland’s skipper, although he did not wear the captain’s armband in Saturday’s season-opener against Oxford United as he was an unused substitute as the Black Cats kicked off the new campaign with a 1-1 draw.

Goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin skippered the side in his absence, but Ross is adamant Leadbitter was the right choice of club captain even though his place in the starting line-up is far from guaranteed.

A lifelong Sunderland fan, Leadbitter’s commitment and professionalism have made him stand out since he returned to Wearside from Middlesbrough in January, and as well as being an inspirational figure in the dressing room, Ross also expects the 33-year-old to prove a key performer on the pitch over the course of the next nine months.

“It was not done for sentimental reasons or because it seemed like the obvious fit,” said the Sunderland boss. “I have got to know him over the last six months, and obviously he has a real feel for the football club. But how he conducts himself on and off the pitch is very much in alignment with how I do things.

“So, for me, I was delighted he wanted to take it, because players don’t always want to accept it, and that is key. We had a conversation, and he was more than happy to take on that responsibility.

“As I mentioned, I have not given him that role for it to be an ambassador-type role, if you like. He is captain, and he will play a lot of games for us and fulfil that role on the pitch.”

With Cattermole and Bryan Oviedo having left this summer, and Denver Hume and Elliot Embleton having forced their way into the first team, the average age of the Sunderland team has been reduced.

Handing Leadbitter the armband is a counter-balance to that, with the midfielder having made his senior Black Cats debut alongside the likes of George McCartney, Jeff Whitley and Marcus Stewart back in September 2003.

“He has experience,” added Ross. “We have seen young players playing (against Oxford), and he understands what it takes as a young player to play here and also make a career out of the game at a good level. Even at the weekend, how he was around the dressing room, he was good and a credit to himself from that respect.”

Sunderland return to action when they travel to Portman Road on Saturday to take on an Ipswich Town side that started the season with an impressive 1-0 win at Burton Albion.

Ipswich were tipped to be one of Sunderland’s leading promotion rivals before the start of the campaign, and Harrogate-born full-back Luke Garbutt claims Paul Lambert’s side will be heading into this weekend’s game in a confident mood.

“That first win gives us massive confidence that we can push on from this position of getting three points on the board,” said Garbutt.