Manchester United’s academy is the best in England and one of the best in Europe, with many players going on to have a great career at United or other top flight clubs after graduating.

However, the young players coming through during Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign have done particularly well for themselves, by not just establishing long playing careers in the Premier League, but almost immediately being named captain by their new managers after leaving United.

Eighteen months after Phil Neville joined Everton he replaced David Weir as captain, having been named the vice-captain after his first season at the club by David Moyes.

When John O’Shea left United for Sunderland in the summer of 2011 he immediately replaced Lee Cattermole as captain.

Nicky Butt also served as the vice-captain at Newcastle United for his first few seasons, behind Scott Parker in pecking order, before being named captain at the start of the 2009-10 season.

A week after signing for West Brom from Manchester United, Tony Pulis named Darren Fletcher his captain, taking the armband from Chris Brunt.

I think Darren has come into the football club and he’s got a bit of stature about himself. The other players have responded very well to him. I always had it in my mind that it (the signing of Fletcher) wouldn’t be just about him playing, it would be his influence, the way he trains, the way he works, the way he lives his life. He is a wonderful character and hopefully that will rub off on other people. Darren might be wearing the armband, we might expect a lot of him, but there are other people who can join in and contribute.

Pulis has today announced that Jonny Evans will replace Fletcher, who has joined Stoke this summer, as West Brom’s captain for the season ahead.

Jonny will be our captain next season. He had a fantastic year last season and I’m hoping he steps up now. He’s not had the responsibility before, to being a captain around the club. It’s an important job and it’s about looking after the players and looking after the dressing room and if we get issues in the dressing room I will be expecting him to sort it out.