Jarvis: I can defend as well

Winger Matt Jarvis insists he has the defensive side to his game to keep Wolves solid on their travels.

Jarvis celebrated his first start of the season with a superb display in last week’s destruction of Sheffield Wednesday.

The 22-year-old knows Wolves face a different test at Ipswich, but feels he can again win the nod ahead of Stephen Ward to claim the left midfield berth.

He said: “You have to have a defensive side to your game. I can’t just go forward and expect George Elokobi to deal with it on his own, even though he probably could!”

“I’ve got to get back and help out, tuck in and help the midfielders out, if the ball is on the other side of the pitch. I can’t stay up front and wait for the ball to come to me.

“I would hope we can play the same way as last week, because we’re an attacking team and away from home we can create the same amount of chances.

“Hopefully we can put them away and shut up shop at the other end, because it will be a tough game all round. They had a great home record last season and we’ll have to keep things tight.

“We’ll have to defend a lot of the time but we’ve got the players to put the ball away if we get the chances.

“I didn’t want to go off last week! The whole team and squad are gelling together. It’s really good to play in this team.”

Whoever doesn’t get the nod won’t be complaining though because of the excellent team spirit, where Jarvis states everyone encourages each other.

He said: “Everywhere around the squad there are people fighting for places. Myself and Stephen Ward are no different.

“Whoever plays, the other one is trying to encourage the other one – there’s no ‘I don’t want him to be playing’ scenario.

“We’re all backing each other 100 per cent and whoever plays the other one wants him to do well.”

With four goals in his last two games, Chris Iwelumo has given Wolves another dimension.

Jarvis said: “Chris gives us another option, another dimension. If you get to the byline and put a cross over and it beats the first man, then he has a great chance of getting on the end of it.”

Left-back George Elokobi is well qualified to talk about the left midfield position – but admits he couldn’t split Jarvis and Ward.

He said: “I’ve got a good understanding with both and I’m happy to leave a decision like that to the gaffer!”

Elokobi himself is relishing the trip to Suffolk – after being involved in a losing derby for Colchester against the Tractor Boys.

He said: “Colchester and Ipswich were big rivals. I played in the derby game once and, although I thought I had a good game, we lost 3-1.

“I’ll try and repeat that if selected but hopefully with the right result.”