New Town signing Jason De Vos says he had no doubts about signing for the Blues once he had spoken to boss Joe Royle. De Vos will line-up in Town's defence for the first time against Peterborough at London Road on Saturday (KO 3pm).

De Vos, who has played for Canada alongside ex-Blues Craig Forrest and national team coach Frank Yallop, says he jumped at the chance to join Town: "I knew at the end of the season that there was interest from one or two clubs and I went and spoke to them all, and Ipswich were one of them.

"As soon as I got down here and spoke to the manager and he revealed his plans for the club and where he wanted to go, it was the easiest decision I have ever had to make."

It's been a busy close season for the 30-year-old but he says that isn't affecting him: "Fitness-wise I feel OK.

"I haven't had much of a break this summer, I took two weeks off when the season had finished and then I started training again because I had some qualifying games with Canada.

"I had about ten days off and then came here and started training."

De Vos played primarily on the left of central defence at former club Wigan but has also featured on the right. As yet he is unsure where Joe Royle plans to use him.

The eloquent former Darlington and Dundee United player says his footballing attributes are self-evident: "What you see is what you get. I'm a big strong lad - strong in the air, strong in the tackle - and I like to think I can communicate well on the pitch and try and organise my team, and use my experience to try and be a bit of a leader.

"Hopefully, I can do the same thing here at Ipswich that I've done at all my other clubs; that is to organise the players around me and the players in front of me and try and make us a difficult side to beat."

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