Jaime Peters

IPSWICH TOWN: Canadian Jamie Peters was today applauded by fellow countryman Jason De Vos for his decision to stay and carve out a career with the Blues.

To send a link to this page to a friend, simply enter their email address below.

The message will include the name and email address you gave us when you signed up.

Email address

  Send link

To send a link to this page to a friend, you must be logged in.

Former Town captain and fans’ favourite De Vos will be meeting up with Peters in Toronto tomorrow on the eve of the international against Peru the following day.

De Vos, who left Portman Road in June 2008 after making 179 first team appearances, is now making a name for himself as a television pundit and he will be commentating on Saturday’s match.

He still keeps a close eye on Ipswich Town affairs and follows Peters’ career closely.

“Jaime has a chance to make the right back position in the Canadian side his own,” said De Vos.

“He looked at one time as though he was going to take the game by storm.

“Joe Royle asked my opinion on him and I was pleased to add my recommendations.

“But after a bright start things did not work out well for a while.

“Jaime had a chance to return to Canada and play for Toronto in the MLS, but he decided to stick it out with Ipswich, which was a wise decision.

“Like me he found it a steep learning curve in England as there is not the same football culture over here.

“He needed to find himself an environment where he could buckle down and learn the finer points of the game.

“Ipswich has given him the perfect opportunity to do this and it’s a credit to Jaime and to his manager Roy Keane that he has come through so well.

“I’ve heard excellent reports of how he’s playing and I’m looking forward to seeing him.”

With Vancouver (2011) and Montreal (2012) joining Toronto in the MLS soon, Canada is becoming more of a football country, and De Vos was heavily involved when every game from the summer’s World Cup finals in South Africa were shown on high definition television.

“Jaime’s progress is good news for Canada and for Ipswich Town,” added De Vos, who plans to come over if the Blues gain promotion next year.

“Ipswich have made a great start. Like every team they will have a blip, but they have put themselves in a position where they can ride the storm and enjoy a successful year.”

Town defender Darren O’Dea suffered only a minor sprain while training for the Republic of Ireland earlier this week. He went to hospital for a scan but the 23-year-old has suffered no serious damage.

Ipswich lost a behind-closed-doors friendly at QPR 2-0 on Tuesday afternoon. Akos Buzsaky and Peter Ramage scored the goals in a match played at the Londoners’ Harlington training ground.

Ipswich, who play Oxford United in the Combination at Portman Road next Wednesday with a 2pm start, fielded the following side: Lee-Barrett, Ainsley, Dunbar, Hourihane, Brown, Eastman, Lambe, Cawley, Murray, Healy and Griffiths. Substitutes: Clark, Cropper, Bennett, Lavery, Meekings and Jones.

Shane O’Connor has been called up by the Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad. Conor Hourihane is also in the squad for games against Switzerland tomorrow and Turkey on Tuesday.

Millwall have confirmed that their Carling Cup third round tie at the Den against Ipswich will take place on Tuesday September 21 with a 7.45pm kick-off.

The teams last met in the League Cup at the second round stage in 2000/01, the Londoners winning the first leg 2-0 at the Den before Town went through after a 5-0 victory at Portman Road. Three of those goals came in extra time after the Lions had been reduced to nine men.