FABIAN Wilnis could captain Ipswich Town at Stoke tomorrow, less than two weeks after preparing to go out on loan, following injuries from Richard Naylor and Jason De Vos along with Alex Bruce, who is suspended for tomorrow's match again Stoke.

By Derek Davis

FABIAN Wilnis could captain Ipswich Town at Stoke tomorrow, less than two weeks after preparing to go out on loan.

A suspected broken toe for stand-in skipper Richard Naylor, coming after club captain Jason De Vos broke a bone in a foot, coupled with Alex Bruce's suspension, has elevated Wilnis from being on the Town scrap-heap to No.1 centre half.

The 36-year-old Dutchman defied the years and kept his second clean sheet in a row after two starts in the e.on-sponsored FA Cup as Town squeezed into the fifth round with a win over Swansea City.

Although new signing David Wright will come back from a one-match ban, Wilnis, as the club's elder statesman, could wear the armband at the Britannia Stadium.

Wilnis said: “Although it would be special, being captain is the last thing on my mind, I'm more concerned about being on the team sheet.

“All this shows what a funny game football can be from one week to the next. A couple of weeks ago I was looking at going out on loan, now with injuries and suspensions I have another chance to show people what I can still do.

“It is amazing that I have gone from zero to hero in such a short space of time but while some people lost faith in me I never doubted by ability and my belief. I have worked hard physically and mentally to stay right in case something like this happened, so I'm ready.”

Wilnis is delighted for fellow outcast defender Sito Castro.

He said: “Sito did very well on Saturday and like a lot of the other players I'm chuffed to bits for him.”