Gianluca Havern proud to captain AFC Telford

The 27-year-old centre-back is one of 11 summer signings made by manager Rob Smith,.

He's been chosen to skipper the side for the new season to replace Jack Rea, who was another candidate.

Havern, who occasionally wore the armband at previous clubs Altrincham and Hyde, was delighted to be chosen to lead the team.

He said: "It doesn't matter to me whether I am (captain) or not, because I'm still going to be organising and talking.

"But it's a privilege to be asked by Rob and Larry (Chambers, assistant boss). It could have gone to a number of players and it's always nice to be asked.

"I've been captain of Altrincham and Hyde at times, so I've worn the armband before."

Elsewhere, fellow centre back Dan Preston has been cleared to play in Saturday's big kick off at home to Fylde, despite his sending off against Birmingham City.

The club claim the centre-back is suspended for a non-competitive game, as the incident happened in a friendly.

Meanwhile, Rea continues to be described as 'touch and go' to be fit the weekend.

It comes after missing the last two friendlies, with a badly bruised knee from the Market Drayton Town game 10 days ago.

Chambers said: "He's having more treatment today, and, depending on how he comes through that, we'll have an idea of whether he can train."