Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez had no qualms about handing Jonjo Shelvey the captain's armband on his return from suspension for using racially-aggravated language towards an opponent.
Shelvey was the architect of the Magpies' 3-1 FA Cup third round replay victory over Birmingham on Tuesday night having sat out five games after being convicted of a Football Association misconduct charge.
However, Benitez did not think twice about naming Shelvey, who denied the charge, as his skipper.
The Spaniard said: 'No, because I said before when we had the hearing and everything that for us, it was a surprise.