Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was forced into changing his Manchester United captain earlier this season, though perhaps it was a fairly straightforward call.

United had earmarked Harry Maguire as a leader from the moment they signed him from Leicester City, so the Norwegian took the simple decision to make him the permanent captain when Ashley Young departed.

But Solskjaer and his staff are keen for more leaders to emerge in the current squad, with several players having already worn the armband at various stages this season. So who could succeed Maguire as skipper at Old Trafford?

Here are six players who could wear the captain’s armband at United one day in the future:

Marcus Rashford

A few eyebrows were raised when Solskjaer gave Rashford the captaincy for the first leg of United’s Carabao Cup semi-final against Man City. Although it was his 200th senior appearance for the club, he had not long turned 22 and with David de Gea in the team, many saw the Spaniard as the more natural choice. It mattered little on the night, even though Rashford scored United’s only goal in a 3-1 home defeat.

Yet Rashford – a true ‘Red’ – as supporters like to sing, has quickly become a senior player in Solskjaer’s squad and will have designs on the permanent captaincy. He’s a leader, a talisman and someone who really cares about United.

Axel Tuanzebe

The Rochdale-born centre-back is another who has taken the armband this season – in the Carabao Cup tie against his hometown team, which was drawn 1-1 before United won on penalties.

That was another occasion on which Solskjaer might have given the captaincy to someone else, with Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard both in the starting 11 that night. But Tuanzebe, who has voiced his desire to lead United later in his career, did a decent job and must be considered for the role if he continues to develop as a player too. Centre-back is the perfect position for a skipper.

Scott McTominay

McTominay has come a long way in a short space of time, something that was evident in United’s opening game of the campaign, that 4-0 thrashing of Chelsea.

Not only did the homegrown midfielder star in the United engine room that day, he made his leadership credentials clear, screaming “we go again” in a team huddle after they’d made it 3-0. He demands the highest of standards from his teammates.

It’s not just that, though, which makes McTominay a captaincy contender. He is very open and honest with the media, an intelligent speaker and a big influence in the dressing room. As another boyhood United fan, he’d surely love to lead the Old Trafford side one day.

Bruno Fernandes

Solskjaer admitted that Fernandes’ ability to lead was factored into United’s decision to sign him from Sporting Lisbon in January. Fernandes was captain of the Portuguese side and although he’s new to this United outfit, he looks to be leading by example already.

The 25-year-old has proven himself to be influential in the middle of the park, built a good rapport with the likes of Fred and Anthony Martial and you can imagine Solskjaer handing him the captain’s armband without a moment’s thought.

Fernandes is a winner and a leader, as well as an outstanding player.

James Garner

Certainly one for the future.

Considering Garner’s lack of first team opportunities this season you wouldn’t say he’s close to becoming captain as things stand. But he has captained the Under-23s on numerous occasions this season and is both a vocal leader and a player who leads by example.

Garner won’t be skipper anytime soon, but could be considered further down the line.

Jack Grealish

An even more left-field contender than Garner, given Grealish doesn’t (yet) play for United.

But he’s Aston Villa’s go-to man, the player everybody else gravitates towards and he could do something similar at United if their transfer interest comes to fruition.

Grealish has the swagger and the confidence of someone born to be captain – and the footballing ability too. He would relish the chance to skipper a club of United’s size.