Allback Hails Villa's Natural Leader

Marcus Allback believes compatriot Olof Mellberg is the perfect leader for the next generation of Villa stars.

Mellberg was given the armband once veteran Steve Staunton・s season was ended by injury.

And Allback insists his Swedish international team-mate is the ideal man to lead Villa over the last nine games of the campaign.

He said: ：He・s a great professional and you never see him have a bad game, do you? He・s always putting in 100 per cent and he is a leader, even if he・s not that type of leader that is screaming and shouting all the time. His character is that of a leader and he・s done well.；

Mellberg has vowed to lead by example and recently said: ：I・m not really a loud-mouth. I try to be positive all the time. That・s something I think we・re brought up with in Sweden, we・re taught to be positive all the time.

：It・s something I・ve tried to add to my game, talking a bit more. Obviously being captain you need to be more vocal and that・s something I・ve been trying to do a little bit more since I became the captain.；