SAINTS midfielder Shea Charles admitted he was "surprised" to discover he will lead Northern Ireland out as captain against Belarus this evening.

NI boss Michael O’Neill called it an "easy decision" to select Charles, who is on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, as skipper for their penultimate Nations League fixture.

Continuing his policy of rotating the armband throughout this campaign, O’Neill has handed the 21 captaincy, making him their youngest skipper.

“It came as a bit of surprise with Conor (Bradley) and Trai (Hume) being captain in the last two camps,” said Charles. “I’m just looking forward to leading the team out.

“I just want to lead by example on and off the pitch. Hopefully, if I play well I can help others with me and keep the team together.”

O’Neill has rewarded the former Manchester City prospect following an eye-catching start to life on loan at Sheffield Wednesday.

“For me, it was an easy decision,” he explained. “Shea is a player who since we put him in the team has taken an enormous amount of responsibility.

"Putting an armband on him doesn’t change that. I think Shea has the attributes to play at the highest level of the game.

"He also has the temperament to play at the highest level and that’s what you are looking for as a captain.

“Whether Shea has the armband or not he is always going to be one of your leaders on the pitch. He deserves this opportunity.”

He continued: “The biggest benefit I see in Shea, and probably playing in the Championship has helped him with this, is without the ball.

“We all know his quality of passing and understanding of the game. You can tell he has been at a club where he has been coached at the highest level of the game.

"He has really improved without the ball. In the Championship you have to do that. Shea doesn’t need to be coached. He just needs games and the more he plays this season and next season will elevate him as a player.”