Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy has hailed his captain marvel, with the Blues’ promotion ambitions firmly back on track.

Luke Chambers has been a rock of consistency this season, without playing in his preferred centre-back position, and excelled again at right-back in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Fulham.

And the former Nottingham Forest defender, a shrewd free transfer signing by former boss Paul Jewell, is set to play a big part in the end-of-season run-in, starting at home to fast-improving Reading on Saturday.

“You want a captain who leads by example – and that’s not necessarily shouting and screaming on the pitch. It’s how you conduct yourself on a daily basis. You train properly and you’re consistent on the pitch,” said McCarthy. “If you have a captain who isn’t consistent on the pitch it’s very hard to be leading them and demanding things from people if you’re not doing it yourself.

“Chambo does all those things and he does them with aplomb. He enjoys his football, he’s got a real common sense attitude to it – I think he understands his strengths and his weaknesses. That’s a big plus, I think.

“He has the respect of the other players, which is paramount when you’re captain.”

A former skipper himself, McCarthy, said the captaincy role could have a negative effect on players and admitted it took him time to adjust to the position as a youngster.

“It can be inspirational to that player who gets the captaincy,” he added.

“It can also be destructive. Some players get it and suddenly think they have to do something else, maybe direct traffic and give information out.

“I have to say it probably did with me at one stage when I was younger.

“Then you realise that you got the honour because of what you are and what you do.”

Chambers was appointed captain following Carlos Edwards’s exit in the summer.

“I’m in the defenders’ club when it comes to who gets the captaincy. I just think they get to see everything, centre-halves especially. That’s a great vantage point,” he revealed.

“I came in and Carlos was the captain. I saw no reason to upset that because I’ve done that before and suddenly it changes the dynamic of the place.

“Chambo was always a good leader, he didn’t need the official title, but I know he appreciates having the armband.”