Cape Town - Jordan Henderson feels he is better equipped to take on the responsibility of Liverpool's captaincy this term after an injury-plagued 2015/16 season.
The 26-year-old was handed the captain's armband following Steven Gerrard's retirement, but made just 17 Premier League appearances as he struggled with a number of injuries.
Being on the sidelines left him with doubts over the position, but now fully fit, the England man feels he is ready for the role.
He said: "I've never felt that I didn't want the captaincy but there were times last season when I was very down because I wasn't playing and I questioned my contribution as captain because of that.
"I couldn't help on the pitch as I wanted to and so Milly (James Milner), as vice-captain, had to take the role on.
"It was a very difficult time and I was down. There were a lot of things going through my head and though there was never a time when I didn't want the captaincy or doubted whether I was the right man for it, there were times when it was hard to feel like the captain because I wasn't contributing on the pitch.
"I feel as though I've come through that now."
Former Liverpool defender Steve McMahon, who captained the side himself, has, meanwhile, explained why he feels Henderson is not the right man for the job.
He told Foxsports.co.au: "Jordan is a good guy and a good player, but he’s not a great player and I just think the job is a bit too much for him.
"I just think okay or good is not good enough for Liverpool Football Club and I think you have to earn the respect and the right to be skipper there but having said that, who else would be captain? There aren’t many options in that squad. Is there anyone else you’d choose? Probably not."
The 26-year-old was handed the captain's armband following Steven Gerrard's retirement, but made just 17 Premier League appearances as he struggled with a number of injuries.
Being on the sidelines left him with doubts over the position, but now fully fit, the England man feels he is ready for the role.
He said: "I've never felt that I didn't want the captaincy but there were times last season when I was very down because I wasn't playing and I questioned my contribution as captain because of that.
"I couldn't help on the pitch as I wanted to and so Milly (James Milner), as vice-captain, had to take the role on.
"It was a very difficult time and I was down. There were a lot of things going through my head and though there was never a time when I didn't want the captaincy or doubted whether I was the right man for it, there were times when it was hard to feel like the captain because I wasn't contributing on the pitch.
"I feel as though I've come through that now."
Former Liverpool defender Steve McMahon, who captained the side himself, has, meanwhile, explained why he feels Henderson is not the right man for the job.
He told Foxsports.co.au: "Jordan is a good guy and a good player, but he’s not a great player and I just think the job is a bit too much for him.
"I just think okay or good is not good enough for Liverpool Football Club and I think you have to earn the respect and the right to be skipper there but having said that, who else would be captain? There aren’t many options in that squad. Is there anyone else you’d choose? Probably not."