England under-21 boss Gareth Southgate has named Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse his captain for the forthcoming campaign.
The Young Lions play their first matches since June's European Championships finals when they face the United States' Under-23s in a friendly in Preston on Thursday, then take on Norway Under-21s away in a Euro 2017 qualifier on Monday.
Ward-Prowse, 20, is among a handful of survivors from the summer tournament featuring in the squad that has been named for the double-header over the next few days.
And speaking on Tuesday at St George's Park, Southgate said: "James will be captain, and I would see him being the captain now for the rest of the period he is with us.
"He has captained us in a couple of games before and is one of a couple of the more senior players who could have done it, but we think his values are good in terms of his ability as a player, him being an exciting prospect, and I also think he integrates well with other people."
Ward-Prowse -- who has also played for England's Under-17s, Under-19s and Under-20s -- has 13 Under-21s caps to his name.
Southgate's side finished bottom of their group at the Euros in the Czech Republic three months ago.
And the former Middlesbrough boss believes it is important there is now a "leadership group" headed by Ward-Prowse within the Young Lions camp as they look to bounce back from the disappointments of the summer.
"I'm going to try to involve some more of the players in a leadership group because I think it's important we develop more leaders -- I think it's a good dynamic for them to come to the fore," Southgate said.
"I think with Jack [Butland, Ward-Prowse's predecessor as England Under-21s skipper] we had an outstanding captain because he brought that group together.
"But you can't do that on your own, so that is why I want to involve others in that process."
Defenders Calum Chambers and Matt Targett and midfielders Nathaniel Chalobah, Jake Forster-Caskey, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Nathan Redmond are the other players still involved who were part of the group in the Czech Republic.
Defender Eric Dier and striker Cauley Woodrow are two further players with Under-21s caps included in this party.
The rest are all uncapped players in a squad which has been reduced from 23 to 20 by the withdrawals of goalkeeper Christian Walton, defender Brendan Galloway and striker Chuba Akpom through injury.
The likes of Liverpool duo Joe Gomez and Jordon Ibe and Tottenham's Dele Alli could get their first under-21 cap on Thursday.
Southgate also stressed he does not need the help of a mentor, despite recent suggestions the Young Lions could benefit from him having an experienced older coach or manager brought into the set-up to advise him.
"I don't think I'm an apprentice. I had 150 matches managing in the Premier League and the Championship," he said. "We had 17 games with one defeat in the lead-up to the summer and I don't think anybody was suggesting that at the time."
Southgate's remit is being modified from that which he was given when he took the post, reducing his responsibilities related to the age groups from the Under-20s down to the Under-16s to give him more time for Under-21s work.
And he said: "We are looking at some more full-time roles, so that my role is more focused on the Under-21s.
"I've got a person assisting me [Steve Holland] who has won the Champions League, the Europa League and the Premier League [with Chelsea], so I'm pretty happy with the support I've got.
"In terms of mentoring for managers and coaches, I do think it's important -- it was something that helped me when I started at Middlesbrough when I had people like Steve Harrison and Malcolm Crosby, who had been first-team managers.
"But I don't feel I'm in that position now."