Town boss Mick McCarthy has hailed his skipper Luke Chambers as an “inspiration” and says he will continue to be his right-back, despite fans’ opinions being split on the 30-year-old in that role.
Chambers, who is primarily a centre-half, has been McCarthy’s regular right-back since the start of the manager’s first full season at Portman Road, the 2013/14 campaign.
However, some fans have never taken to the Kettering-born defender in the position in which he also played for spells at former clubs Northampton and Nottingham Forest.
Quizzed on the split opinions on his captain as a full-back, which again came to the fore this week after the Aston Villa match, McCarthy said: "I’ll try and put my best ‘bothered’ look on for that! Everything we do at the minute seems to split opinion.”
He added: "He’ll be playing on Saturday, so that probably tells you something about that one.
"Chambo had played at right-back before I [played him there]. I went to see him play for Northampton and he played at right-back and I thought he was going to play at centre-back.
"I have to be honest, I didn’t see him a lot more after that until I turned up here. Yes, he’s probably a centre-back but he’s done amazingly well. And I am delighted with him.
"On Saturday it was one of those days when he’s just had a bit of a tough day, but if anybody gives any more than he does in terms of the commitment to the cause here I’d like to see it.
"And he’s just gone and done it selflessly. Let me tell you there’s nobody better in the club and he’s one of the best captains I’ve had in terms of bringing everybody into it and welcoming people and just driving the players on and doing it by example. He’s fantastic.
"So I’m sorry to all those with the split opinion but he will be playing there on Saturday and on Tuesday and probably on Saturday and probably for the next 38 games or whatever we’ve got left. He’s one of the first names on the teamsheet, nailed on.”
McCarthy says he’s not looked for a more specialised right-back since Chambers has taken on the role, loanees Bradley Orr and Richard Stearman having played there in his first half-season at Town after he had moved former skipper Carlos Edwards, the regular right-back under Paul Jewell, into midfield.
"We’ve had a particularly settled back four or five for a long, long time and he’s been one of them and been particularly good, I think,” the Town boss continued.
"We’ve spent a bit of money this time, but I think it’s been spent wisely, certainly on Grant Ward and Webbo.
"And I don’t know where I’m going to get one as good as him who’s not going to cost me an arm and a leg and that’s got the same character, the same determination, all the characteristics I love in footballers. So no, I haven’t.”
McCarthy likes the sort of versatility that Chambers has shown in his time at Portman Road with players happy to play anywhere they’re asked.
"I think they are, they do,” he said. "I kind of hear squeaks of discontent about people, but they’re great.
"Are they great players? Well no, I’m not going to say that, they’re great personalities and really top players for this club and doing what they do in doing it so selflessly I think is terrific. Brett Pitman’s another one and Chambo certainly is.”
As a captain McCarthy says Chambers is one of the best he has known, having previously worn the armband at Forest.
"He has a real effect on other people around him,” the Blues boss added. "There are some captains who go in with a teamsheet and some who go for the toss of a coin, some that do whatever they think captains should do.
"But he is a leader, the lads call him Skip and they all look up to him. He’s been an inspiration to a lot of lads at this place.”