DEFENDER Simon Francis admits he has found his voice on the football field – but keeps losing it after games.

Francis was handed the captain's armband after Tommy Elphick succumbed to an ankle injury at the beginning of September.

However, Elphick reassumed the role on his return in Saturday's FA Cup win at Portsmouth, with the rested Francis replacing his team-mate late on.

Francis told the Daily Echo: "After I took the armband I tried to be more vocal and I spoke to Tommy about it a lot.

"I took on responsibilities that sometimes go unnoticed, such as getting the lads going before games and talking a lot during games.

"I kept losing my voice afterwards because I was doing a lot of talking in the middle of the park!"

Elphick's absence also coincided with a positional switch for Francis, the 30-year-old moving from full-back to centre-half in order to plug the gap.

Asked whether he still considered himself primarily a right-back or equally adept in both positions, Francis added: "I suppose we’ll have to see how the season pans out and then maybe a decision will be made. It’s been good for us that I’ve been versatile.

"All my career I’ve played in a number of positions and I slotted into centre-half without too much trouble.

"The way we play I can still get on the ball and have an influence in starting attacks. I’ve enjoyed every element of it and long may it continue.

"There is no easy position in the Premier League and wherever I’m put in, I’ll do the job the best of my ability."

Francis grew in stature following his positional shift and following Elphick's return to fitness, boss Eddie Howe has a number of options at the heart of Cherries' defence.

Alongside Elphick and Francis, Steve Cook, Sylvain Distin and Baily Cargill are all battling to earn a place in the starting XI.

Francis added: "The competition for places is what it's all about.

"The gaffer wants a fully-fit squad no matter what and he’d want that selection headache rather than having to force players to play out of position."

Reflecting on tonight's visit to Crystal Palace (8pm), Francis added: "It will be a really tough game. They are not on a great run at the moment so we will look at heir weaknesses and why they’ve lost games.

"We’ll also be well-aware of their strengths like we were when we played them at home. That was a resolute and solid performance from us.

"Yes, it was 0-0 and we didn’t score but we kept a clean sheet against a team which were great performers at that time."