Pepe Mel: 'Easy choice to give captaincy to Gareth McAuley'

West Bromwich Albion manager Pepe Mel has claimed that it was an easy choice to hand the captain's armband to Gareth McAuley.

Club skipper Chris Brunt is currently out of action with a knee injury and his usual replacement, Jonas Olsson, is serving a two-match suspension, which means that McAuley will captain the side against Hull City on Saturday afternoon.

"Of course it's easy for me," Mel told the club's official website.

"McAuley I think is best for us. He's calm, he's a good professional, thinks on the pitch, and he's always next to the referee.

"For the young players a good professional is the best example and McAuley is a good player and a good professional every day on the pitch and training ground."

The Baggies are currently three points above the relegation zone in 16th.