BLUES boss Joe Royle will be sweating on the fitness of both central defenders ahead of Sunday's crucial Championship game at Brighton.Jason De Vos has been confined to his bed with a viral infection, while Richard Naylor limped out of Saturday's 5-1 win over Crewe with an Achilles injury.

By Derek Davis

BLUES boss Joe Royle will be sweating on the fitness of both central defenders ahead of Sunday's crucial Championship game at Brighton.

Jason De Vos has been confined to his bed with a viral infection, while Richard Naylor limped out of Saturday's 5-1 win over Crewe with an Achilles injury.

De Vos has not missed a league game for Town this season, despite suffering a leg fracture early in the season, which was discovered while he was away on international duty with Canada.

The centre back has been a commanding presence and was a contender for a number of player-of-the-year awards in his first season with Town.

The EADT columnist missed the Official Ipswich Town Supporters' Club night on Monday through illness and was still feeling ill yesterday but was hoping to be fit enough to join in training today.

The players will also have tomorrow off and regroup on Saturday before travelling to the south coast. Naylor has been resting his sore heel and should be okay to play in a position that has seen him judged the most improved player at the club, almost 10 years after making his debut. Albion will be without top scorer Adam Virgo, who had an operation on a knee cartilage earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Ipswich target Darryl Murphy's transfer fee is likely to escalate this week with Aberdeen entering the race to sign him when the transfer window re-opens on July 1.

Dons boss Jimmy Calderwood is keen on Waterford's Murphy and could look to scupper Sunderland's bid to secure him after they made a £65,000 bid for the Irish Under-21 international.