BLUES boss Joe Royle is confident that both Jason De Vos and Fabian Wilnis will sign new contracts this week.Although De Vos still has a year on his current contract he and the club are keen to extend that deal, while Wilnis has confirmed he is hoping to put pen to paper this week.

By Derek Davis

BLUES boss Joe Royle is confident that both Jason De Vos and Fabian Wilnis will sign new contracts this week.

Although De Vos still has a year on his current contract he and the club are keen to extend that deal, while Wilnis has confirmed he is hoping to put pen to paper this week.

Royle last night said: “A deal has been agreed with Jason and his agent and I understand the chairman is going to speak with Fabian's agent this week. I'm confident both will be signed this week and that will be great for everyone.”

Although 32-year-old De Vos broke his ribs on the opening day of the season and was out for a month, he has come back as strong as ever and benefited from not playing international football.

The 35-year-old Wilnis is enjoying an Indian summer in his career and along with De Vos is a strong contender for Town's Player of the Year.

Royle is already working on securing his squad for next season after losing yet another player to an impact injury with Ian Westlake damaging an ankle, while the return of Sam Parkin has hit a problem.

Westlake was hurt in a late challenge by Hull's Rui Marques on Saturday and damaged the same ankle that forced him to miss six weeks earlier in the season.

Although scans have shown no fracture, ankle ligament damage looks to be serious and Westlake, who saw a specialist last night, is unlikely to play again this season. Jimmy Juan returns from a groin problem and is expected to be fit to play at Luton on Saturday, although Norwegian Vemund Brekke Skard is also hoping for more game time.

Parkin completed 45 minutes in the reserves' 2-0 win over West Ham on Friday night and had originally planned to play against Spurs tonight but knew he was suffering immediately after the game at Needham Market.

Parkin said: “The tendon at the back of the ankle is very sore. It is a worry but there is no point in rushing it. I will just have to take things steady.”

Dean Bowditch's loan spell with Wycombe Wanderers ends today and a decision on whether he will stay with the Chairboys until the end of the season or return to Portman Road is expected this morning.

Kevin Horlock's loan spell at Doncaster Rovers is due to end next week but it is understood Dave Penney is keen to keep him until the end of the season after enjoying a good run since the Ipswich midfielder joined them.

Billy Clarke made his debut for Colchester but had a last-gasp goal disallowed at Scunthorpe while Aidan Collins helped Stockport County to a 2-0 win over Macclesfield. Gerard Nash was not involved in Southend's 3-0 win over Hartlepool.

Nicky Forster's comeback is still on hold as he misses out on a trip to Spurs' second string tonight, although he may figure in the last home match for Steve McCall's side against Charlton next Monday. Jay McEveley's remarkable progress continues after he played two full games last week, while Icelandic keeper Oskar Petursson will keep goal for the reserves tonight.

Chris Casement, Danny Haynes and Vemund Brekke Skard, who were on the first-team bench on Saturday, are all due to be in action tonight, along with hopefuls Liam Trotter, Darryl Knights and Jaime Peters, while Scott Mitchell and Cathal Lordan get another chance to impress scouts.