IPSWICH Town were today given a big boost when key defender Jason De Vos revealed he will be fit enough to be considered for Monday's home reserve game against Arsenal.

IPSWICH Town were today given a big boost when key defender Jason De Vos revealed he will be fit enough to be considered for Monday's home reserve game against Arsenal.

The 31-year-old Canadian international has not played since he cracked ribs in the opening Championship match of the season against Cardiff City.

But De Vos trained

yesterday with the rest of the first team squad, and if he

suffers no reaction over the weekend is expected to play some part of the match against the Gunners.

Town manager Joe Royle said today: “This is a big boost for us. As well as Fabian Wilnis has played at central defence there is no doubt that Jason has been missed.

“And with Richard Naylor also back in the team for our next game at Sheffield United next Saturday we will be much stronger than we were against Preston last Monday.”

Jay McEveley will also be in the side to face Arsenal, and Royle is pleased with the progress the left-sided defender has made this week.

Royle said: “Jay has been doing special fitness work with Simon Thadani and has made a great deal of progress.

“He was high on our list of wants for some while, but we wanted him to play a reserve match for Blackburn Rovers first.

“He missed most of the pre-season because of a stomach strain, and is only now catching up. Jay has improved by the day, and signing him last Monday enabled us to take advantage of the 12 day break between matches because of the World Cup qualifiers.”

Royle admitted that he sees Wilnis more as a central defender than a full back these days, and he is pleased with the Dutch player's form this season.

“It remains to be seen where Fabian fits into the team, but he is a vital member of our squad,” said Royle, who played down reports that he is interested in Colchester United's Neil Danns.

“He is not a player we are considering,” said Royle.

Icelander striker Gunner Heidar Thorvaldsson is also unlikely to end up an Ipswich Town player.

There has been speculation in Iceland that Ipswich were showing an interest in Thorvaldsson but Royle said: “We have no European scouts these days and we depend on agents getting in touch with us.

“Sometimes things get blown out of proportion as of course we will look at certain players if they pay their way over and are keen to have a trial period.”