Boss Roy Keane says skipper Jon Walters has been “outstanding” since he took over as boss last April and should be playing in the Premier League. Keane made Walters his captain in September after Alex Bruce suffered an injury and the Republic of Ireland B international has kept the armband ever since.
Keane said: "Jon’s been outstanding. He’s a been a really good leader for us, even earlier in the season when we were having a difficult spell.
"He’s shown good leadership skills, he trains well, he’s got a good attitude and he set up two of the goals up last weekend.
"There’s no doubt in my mind, Jon Walters could easily be playing in the Premiership, so we’re very lucky to have him. He’s a very, very important player for us.
"The game he missed at Palace, we missed him. It’s not just what we see on a Saturday but it’s what happens the rest of the week, obviously the supporters and media don’t see that. He’s a big, big player for us.
"People lead in different ways. Jon leads with his attitude to training, the way he speaks to people, his respect to the staff, the way he plays, his workrate and his never-say-die attitude. He’s got a lot going for him. How he’s not playing in the Premiership I’ll never know.”
Keane says it’s only a matter of time before the former Chester man receives a full Republic of Ireland call-up: "If he keeps playing the way he is then that’s up to the international manager. But Jon will know that if he keeps playing how he is for Ipswich, that will happen. He’s a good player with a good attitude and it’s a pleasure to work with him.”
Midfielder David Norris also qualifies to play for the Republic of Ireland and Keane says he is another member of his squad in with a chance of international football if he continues to impress for the Blues: "First and foremost they have to play for Ipswich, it doesn’t matter who they qualify for.
"David’s coming back from injury and we have to be careful with him. He certainly won’t be ready to play three games in a week, absolutely no chance, that’s how injuries come about.
"We’ve got a very good fitness coach. We look at all the stats and the data from the players and we think that certain players are more capable of playing the three games than others, certainly players in the defence where it’s not as intense as it is for strikers or midfielders where you’ve more sharp sprints. We’ve got to be careful with David. It’s more prevention than anything else.”
Jon Stead serves the final game of his four-match ban on Saturday, while Brian Murphy will again miss out due to the ankle injury he sustained in the warm-up at Leicester. The Irish keeper could be back on Tuesday when West Brom are at Portman Road and otherwise the Blues have no new injury worries.
The Blues boss says he is yet to make a decision on whether Trinidadian international striker John will remain at the club beyond the end of the month: "He’s been a big plus since he came to the club but we have to respect that he’s contracted to Crystal Palace. We’ll see. I think we’ll have a look at it after the game against West Brom.
"We want to be fair to Palace and to Stern so won't let it go to the very last day of January. With Stern’s situation, because we had him previously, if we’re going to take him it would have to be for the rest of the season.”
The 33-year-old netted the first goal of his spell in last week’s 3-2 victory over Coventry City.