JASON De Vos last night revealed his international career with Canada has all but ended, after saying he would not be available to manager Frank Yallop again this year, writes Derek Davis.

JASON De Vos last night revealed his international career with Canada has all but ended, after saying he would not be available to manager Frank Yallop again this year, writes Derek Davis.

The Ipswich Town defender is reluctant to close the door on playing for his country completely but feels it is unlikely he will don the Maple Leaf shirt again.

De Vos, who won 49 caps, many as captain, scored the winner in the Gold Cup final against Colombia in 2000, but his dreams of taking them to the World Cup in Germany next year ended when they failed to qualify from their CONCACAF section.

He told the EADT: “I'm not going to announce my retirement but, to all intents and purposes, I have probably played my last game for Canada.

“I spoke to Frank about it at length a couple of days ago and there is nothing for me to play for anymore.

“The World Cup qualifiers are finished for us and the next one doesn't start for another four years.

“I'm not going to say 'that's it - I'm finished' but, for the foreseeable future, I won't be playing internationals.

“There is a game against Northern Ireland next week and another against Portugal next month but I won't be available for those, nor the Gold Cup in the summer.”

De Vos is keen to concentrate on getting Town promoted, and then producing his best football in the Premiership, and international football, with all the travelling that entails, could detract from that.

He said: “I spoke to Joe Royle about it and I really don't need to be travelling the world with Canada. I have done that and played my part, now my focus is on Ipswich Town and getting into the Premiership and going on from there.”

Former Town favourite and Canada manager Yallop fully understands the 31-year-old's decision but could well call upon De Vos' experience in the future.

De Vos said: “From Frank's viewpoint, he has to start blooding youngsters and he needs to start picking guys in their early 20s so they can start getting experience.

“He knows what I'm like, what my character is and if he feels, at some stage in the future, that he has a young centre-half who would benefit from playing alongside me for a few games, then I may consider playing - but he knows my focus now is my club football and that could well be the case until the end of my career.

“He doesn't want to jeopardise that and he wants Ipswich to do well. He is very excited about where Ipswich are in the league and he wants us to be promoted.

“He is Ipswich through-and-through and knows this is an important time for us and he would love to see us in the Premiership.”

n Jaime Peters is due to return to Ipswich today after helping the Canadian Under-20s qualify for the World Championships.

Due to visa restrictions, Peters can not play for the Blues until his 18th birthday in May but will train with the squad until then.