A SHADOW of doubt has been cast over David Unsworth's Ipswich Town future, after it was revealed in court yesterday that his wife was unhappy with the defender being away from home so much.

A SHADOW of doubt has been cast over David Unsworth's Ipswich Town future, after it was revealed in court yesterday that his wife was unhappy with the defender being away from home so much.

During a defence speech by solicitor Dan Souter, who was offering mitigating circumstances after Unsworth had pleaded guilty to drink driving, it emerged that the defender's family life was suffering due to his loan move to Ipswich, and the time spent away from home.

Souter yesterday told the court: “Times are difficult for the Unsworth family at this time with the pressures of football.

“Mr Unsworth arrived at Portsmouth in the summer of 2004. It was then decided he was no longer wanted and he was loaned out to Ipswich and certainly Mrs Unsworth has been finding it particularly difficult with three young children.”

The 31-year-old started his career at Everton, where he won an FA Cup medal under Town boss Joe Royle.

He moved to West Ham before being sold to Aston Villa in the summer of 1998 but he never played a game for the Villans and returned to Everton, citing his wife's unhappiness at being away from her north-west home, as the reason.

Royle, who provided a written reference to the court in Fareham in Hampshire yesterday, played down the concerns last night and said that the matter had not been mentioned.

Unsworth joined the Blues on loan until the end of the season from Portsmouth at the beginning of February and scored on his debut at Sheffield United.

Unsworth is expected to train with the squad, who all had yesterday off and will play against Nottingham Forest tomorrow.

Richard Naylor, who has been struggling with a hamstring injury, completed a fitness session yesterday and will train with the squad this morning.

See also Page 5