JASON De Vos today revealed that he played six games for Ipswich Town while suffering from a painful stress metatarsal fracture.The heroic Blues skipper put a move up the Coca-Cola Championship table ahead of his own welfare - having to immerse his right foot in a tub of hot water during half-time.

By Elvin King

JASON De Vos today revealed that he played six games for Ipswich Town while suffering from a painful stress metatarsal fracture.

The heroic Blues skipper put a move up the Coca-Cola Championship table ahead of his own welfare - having to immerse his right foot in a tub of hot water during half-time.

He soldiered on through the agony as Town gained enough points to pull clear of any lingering relegation fears.

De Vos, 33, missed seven matches in January and February after fracturing a metatarsal, but this healed satisfactorily after rest.

However, a scan after the Luton away victory on March 17 found he was suffering from another fractured metatarsal in the same foot.

Similar injuries forced David Beckham and Wayne Rooney to be out of action for six weeks, but De Vos played down his heroics.

He said: “The damaged bone was not displaced and I had the benefit of expert medical advice.

“I was told that unless I took a blow on the spot there would not be any further damage done. There were times when I suffered sharp pain after a collision or contact with the ball, but overall I was able to cope.

“I have to thank the medical people for giving me the confidence to play one.”

De Vos underwent an operation last week and is recovering well. He was seeing a specialist in London today (TUES), and is already able to put weight on his right foot.

“There were times when I had to put my foot into a tub of hot water at the interval,” added De Vos. “The hardest aspect was coming out after the break and getting the foot warmed up again.

“I first felt a problem during our home defeat by Southend on March 10, and when things did not improve I had a scan two games later after the Luton win.

“It was a tough call but I made it plain that I wanted to carry on playing given the medical diagnosis, and the manager was very good to allow me to schedule my training around the injury.

“I have had a history of problems with my right foot, and hopefully they are now all sorted.”

With De Vos suffering his stress fracture in the Southend game he turned out in six games while in considerable pain.

“Now I want to concentrate on being fully fit for next season - and be ready for the start of pre-season training,” added De Vos, who once played on with a fractured rib.

“It should be a good 2007/08. I can understand the frustrations of our fans, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“We are going to end this campaign in a decent position, and we are currently one of the form teams in the Championship.”