Cana handed Sunderland captaincy

Albania international Lorik Cana has been appointed Sunderland’s new captain.

The 24-year-old, a £5m signing from Marseille, will take over from Dean Whitehead as skipper following his departure for Stoke, which was closely followed by that of stand-in Danny Collins, also to the Britannia Stadium.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce told the Sunderland Echo: “Some people might raise their eyebrows and think, ’He’s a foreign player’, but he speaks the language perfectly well, he leads by example, he’s a good age, he’s got experience, he captains his country and he’s captained his old club in Marseille.

“I think anybody who’s watched him will understand why I have made him captain of the club.”

Cana has made a big impact since his summer move to the Stadium of Light, forging a combative central midfield partnership with fellow newcomer Lee Cattermole.