Premier League with Wolves or National League South with Maidstone - it's all the same to George Elokobi.

United's new captain brings fierce commitment, wherever he plays, and has wasted no time imposing his big personality on the squad.

It's never quiet when the ex-Wolves defender is around and his leadership qualities will be crucial if a new-look side are to challenge for promotion.

Elokobi, 33, said: "You have to be vocal on the football pitch. After every game I lose my voice for a couple of days.

"You need talkers, people that can help.

"We're a new squad and we are getting there.

"We're gelling and we're improving and we'll keep improving throughout season.

"It's good to see us beginning to put partnerships together but you have to be vocal to pass on information and also let your opponents know what you're about.

"You can never play quiet in a game or in training.

"You have to be talking, you have to be loud, you have to be giving the right information to your team-mates.

"Everyone did it at Wolves and it became a noisy environment but very good for team morale, especially when you're trying to win the ball back.

"It's important to hear encouragement, not negativity.

"When you're doing something right you get praise and when you do something wrong you get encouragement.

"Criticism is done in the changing room, not out there on the pitch."

Elokobi reached won the Championship title and promotion to the Premier League during six years at Molineux and also had a spell on loan with Nottingham Forest.

But he's happy plying his trade in non-league football, having started his career at Dulwich Hamlet before earning his Football League break at Colchester.

He said: "Training every day, I enjoy it like I did at Wolves.

"The level doesn't make any difference to me.

"The hunger stays the same and I always push myself to try to be better each and every day and to work hard for myself and my team-mates.

"By working hard with my team-mates pushing me, it's going to help me improve on the pitch.

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"The stadiums aren't so big and the pitches aren't so lovely but I'm playing on a 3G pitch here which feels like a Premier League pitch.

"Non-league is traditional, I know it well and it's good to be playing here.

"I've played for some massive clubs and I love them all.

"I always keep an eye on their results and they always support me.

"Fans have fond memories of what I did for them but it's always good to play at a different level.

"I believe I've played at every level, which is good.

"I still enjoy pushing myself and striving to be the best I can be."

Elokobi went down in Wolves folklore after scoring the opening goal in a 2-1 win over Manchester United in 2011, ending the Red Devils' 29-game unbeaten record.

It was a highlight of his time working under Mick McCarthy, a man with similar traits to John Still and Hakan Hayrettin at Maidstone.

Elokobi said: "That goal was a special moment in my career and a special moment in Wolves' history as a football club to beat Man United.

"Mick is a top, top guy who wants you to be the best you can be, to play to your strengths and work on your weaknesses behind the scenes.

"He wanted things done properly and he wanted you to work hard every single day in training, so the similarities are there when I look at John and Hakan because they demand the same.

"I call Mick 'Dad' and I still speak to him to this day.

"I had a great relationship with him - I looked up to him as a father figure.

"Him and Terry Connor, the assistant manager, were like my father and my uncle at Wolves.

"They helped me a lot and gave me an opportunity to play at a huge club where my career went from strength to strength."

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