Scott Eustace has not only regained his first team place but for the last two matches has worn the captain's armband, something which seems to have brought the best out of the former Leicester and Mansfield defender.

With Paul Wanless sidelined by 'flu for the last three games, David Preece captained the side against Wanless' old club, Oxford United, on Boxing Day. When he too succumbed to the bug, and with regular deputy Andy Duncan ruled out with a broken leg, the armband was handed to Eustace.

"It's a real honour to be captain," the 24-year-old told Mark Johnson today. "It shouldn't make a difference to the way you play, but I feel it has brought a step up in the way I play."