JANNIK Vestergaard admitted he would be proud to captain either club or country in the future and said: “It is natural for me to take responsibility.”

The Saints defender made his return to the Denmark setup over the weekend, having spent the first period of the international break in England due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Vestergaard played 90 minutes to help the Danes seal a 2-1 Nations League victory over Iceland on Sunday.

And speaking before that contest, the 28-year-old admitted he would love a captaincy role at either his club or country.

In quotes translated from Danish outlet BT, he said: “It is natural for me to take responsibility and I always work in the interest of the team.

“I enjoyed being captain in my time on the under-21 national team and was already deputy captain in Hoffenheim, so if one day it leads to a captain armband, then I will be proud.”

Vestergaard has started eight times in total for Saints and Denmark this season – and is yet to be on a losing team when he has played 90 minutes.

“I am in top form physically, with optimal fighting form and lots of confidence,” he added.

“And those things are then taken into a group on a national team that already works really well as a team.

“It is the team spirit that has made us strong."