Virgil van Dijk must earn back the honour of captaining Southampton, according to boss Mauricio Pellegrino.
Steven Davis will remain as Southampton's club captain despite Van Dijk's return to the St Mary's fold.
Van Dijk failed to push through a summer move to Liverpool and continues to be integrated back into Saints' first team.
The 26-year-old could well be on the bench again for Saturday's Premier League trip to Stoke, with manager Pellegrino insisting he must keep working hard to earn back Saints' trust in his leadership.
"Virgil is still one of our captains,'' said Pellegrino, who has skippered Saints in the past.