Perry Kitchen has admitted his time as captain of Hearts has been a test of character.

Since being handed the armband in September, the club has changed head coach, with new boss Ian Cathro trying to instill a new system of play in the squad.

Results have taken a downturn, with just one league win in six matches, but Kitchen explained that the togetherness of the squad was helping them come through the tough patch of form.

The USA international midfielder said: "It's easy to lead when everything is going well, luck is going your way and everything seems to be falling in to place.

"But when your backs are against the wall and things aren't going your way that's a true test of your leadership.

"It's not easy but it is about getting everyone together and believing in what we are doing here.

"It's about not worrying about anything that can bring us down, no outside noise.

"It is about sticking together and I think we are doing that."

Kitchen said he felt a responsibility to be Cathro's voice on the field and keep the team playing the way they are being trained to.

But the 24-year-old added that he was not alone in keeping the team focused in the heat of the match.

He said: "As captain it is a main role of mine to emulate the coach on the field.

"But we have a lot of leaders on the field and when the game is going crazy you need a bunch of guys to look around and get everyone back to playing the way that works for us.

"We definitely have that leadership and those characteristics within the team."