Pep Guardiola says his players will decide on who will succeed Vincent Kompany as City captain.

Such is the experience in Guardiola’s squad, there are plenty of candidates for the role, which was occupied by the Belgian for eight years before he left to take over as player-manager of Anderlecht in the summer. 

And Guardiola says a decision will be taken as a group once all his senior internationals have returned to training. 

“We will choose the captain,” he said immediately after City’s 4-1 win over West Ham United in the Premier League Asia Trophy.

“We will wait until everyone is back - the Copa America guys and Riyad Mahrez - and they will choose their captain.”

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David Silva captained the side during Wednesday’s win over West Ham in Nanjing.

The Spaniard, who joined City in 2010 and has since won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups, is likely to be a strong candidate to take the role on a permanent basis.

And Guardiola heaped praise on Silva afterwards, describing him as a player who has a significant influence on the rest of the squad. 

“What should I say? He helps the guys and makes them proud,” Guardiola said. 

“They push each other and themselves and everyone tries.”