Eoin Toal

Toal has captained every club he has played senior football for, first in Ireland and now at Bolton. That shared trust from separate dressing rooms says plenty about the sort of defender and person he is. He converted a penalty in a major cup final shootout despite his side eventually losing, exposing no lack of composure under real pressure. He organises the players around him with the calm authority of someone who has done this since his teenage years.

The next step is turning that leadership into steady performances at a level above where he made his name, since wearing the armband alone does not stop faster forwards from causing problems. He has already earned senior international honours, which suggests the ability matches the nerve. Watch whether he can lead a back line that concedes fewer clear chances, because that gap separates a good captain from a genuinely good defender.