Dael Fry was named skipper for Saturday’s Championship opener against Swansea City and led by example, scoring the only goal as Boro made the perfect start to the campaign under Edwards.
But Fry might not necessarily wear the armband at Millwall next weekend, with Edwards planning to continue to rotate the captaincy, as he did throughout pre-season.
“I’ve made it clear, the armband could get shared around,” explained the head coach after Saturday’s win.
“I want to promote leadership within the group. I think we’ve got a number of players who can wear it, and today was Dael’s day.
“It’s not a club captain thing though. I know that’s a little bit different, but for me, we’ve got a lot of leaders in the group and I want to try and promote more, so I think I’ll continue to share it around.”
RECOMMENDED READING:
Edwards said he could “potentially” name one fixed club captain at some stage in the future, but added: “We’ll see. I don’t have a crystal ball.
“There will be people I lean towards anyway, even if people haven’t got that armband.
“It’s important to have good relationships with all the leaders, and you can be 21 and be a leader in the dressing room.
“I want to try and promote more of that, and it’s something we can get better at and improve as a football club. We’re working on that.”
He won’t necessarily keep the armband, then, but it was still an immensely proud day for Teessider Fry, to lead his boyhood club out 10 years on from his debut season and to head in what proved to be the winner early in the second half.
It was a first competitive goal for Fry in three-and-a-half years, but he did get on the scoresheet in pre-season and Edwards is delighted to see the defender making his presence felt in the opposition box.
Edwards said: “A great day for him. He was brilliant. Clean sheet, goal, great day.
“We’re really pleased for him. He’s a big boy and when you can attack the ball like that then you’ve got a chance.
“There’s a lot of work going into that, more than just Dael being good in the air. But really pleased for Dael.”
