Fabricio Coloccini shouldn't be captain

Only goal difference is keeping Steve McClaren’s men out of the relegation zone after their 5-1 thrashing at Chelsea on Saturday.

Asked if skipper Coloccini is a natural leader, Carver said: “Not really. He is the captain of the football club but not like the old-fashione captains like Shearer.

“Everybody knew who he was and he was very vocal.

“Coloccini is not vocal, he almost plays for himself to be honest and it is something the club will have to address.”

Carver, who left the club last May considered taking the armband off Coloccini and giving it to Daryl Janmaat during his traumatic spell in charge but eventually decided against it.

“In times like now, when we are in trouble, we need some leaders,” added Carver, on the BBC’s Match of the Day Extra yesterday.

“But what I will say is there are not many leaders at football clubs. They are a dying breed and finding them is not easy.”

Newcastle don’t play again until March 2 but have come under fire from some fans for flying out to Spain for a sunshine training camp this week.

But Carver defended the move.

He added: “What I saw against Chelsea was 11 individuals so this might be a chance to sit around the table and go through some stuff, spending time with each other and finding out about personalities.”