Manager Mick McCarthy says skipper Carlos Edwards is one of the fittest players he knows, despite the Trinidad and Tobago international turning 35 last week.
Edwards is currently out of the first XI, having been one of the players left out after the home defeat to Leeds in August, but his boss says he’s getting his head down in training and trying to win back his place: "Carlos is Carlos, he’s great, he just gets on and does his work and does it as I’d expect him to do it. But they’re all like that, the lads are good.”
Although the former Sunderland, Luton and Wrexham man, who previously played under McCarthy during a loan spell at Wolves, was operating at right-back under former boss Paul Jewell, the current manager says he sees him very much as a midfield player, albeit one with defensive attributes.
"He’s played there, but the reality is that he’s a wide right player for me,” he said. "That was proven because I played him there against Birmingham [in his first game in charge] and then moved him once I’d got a right-back [Bradley Orr] in.
"He’s fabulous at defending from the front as a right winger. He gets back in and tucks in. But then Paul Anderson does that well too, he works his shift and he’s deserved to stay in, Paul, he’s played well.
"Carlos played all the [U21 game against Bristol City last week] just to get him minutes. He’s one of the fittest guys I know, especially at that age, but it’s still important to play 90 minutes. That was all it was for.”
Meanwhile, former Blues left-back Shane O'Connor, 23, has joined Portadown, who play in the [Northern] Irish Premier League.
Elsewhere, another ex-Town full-back Frank Yallop is tipped to become the new coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps, who have parted company with their previous boss Martin Rennie.