DANNY Jackman is at risk of losing the captaincy as Worcester City manager Carl Heeley admits there are a number of players with “captain material”.

The Worcester-born midfielder skippered City in the second half of last season and has expressed his desire to continue in the role.

However, new recruit Graham Hutchison has worn the captain’s armband in Worcester’s last three games in pre-season.

The 23-year-old’s consistent selection in the starting line-up appears to have made him prime candidate to take on the responsibility.

But Heeley insists he has yet to make a decision on who will lead his side in the 2016/2017 Vanarama National League North campaign.

“We have got a number of characters in the changing room that have got captain material,” Heeley said.

“But it’s not something we have fully discussed yet, so we will see how it goes.

“(During pre-season) you look at things like formations and who works with who and then we will take it from there.

“But it is not something we have really thought about.

“It is irrelevant who wears the armband in a pre-season game, but we will sort it out.

“We will discuss it over the next couple of weeks and we will appoint a captain.”

Last season, Heeley praised the influence of Jackman who replaced Ellis Deeney as skipper in January and immediately inspired City to back-to-back wins over promotion-chasing AFC Fylde and North Ferriby United.

After captaining Worcester in their opening pre-season games against Stourport Swifts and Stratford Town, Jackman has since found himself on the bench.

However, Heeley says the 33-year-old’s omission acted as an avenue for other players to impress as Joe Fitzpatrick, who played for Mansfield Town's under-21s last night, featured in City’s 2-0 win at Sutton Coldfield last Friday.

“I know what Danny and Connor (Gater) can do and they have had some minutes,” said Heeley who did not include Gater in the team to face the Royals.

“But pre-season is an opportunity to look at different types of players and there were a couple of the trialists (against Sutton Coldfield) who we hope are what we need to compliments them.

“You don’t just look at 11 players as you have got to have a squad of players because you play Saturday-Tuesday, Saturday-Tuesday and the games come thick and fast.

“You are going to get injuries and pick up little niggles, so you have got to have players who can come in and do a job.”