Amazing how football can be. One week you are sitting in the top 6, on the back of a 100& home record. A week later, and you are midtable, with the 100% record gone and all focus on your dismal away form. But for one person, this has been nothing but good news.
Luis Castro Sito has become the forgotten man of Portman Road. When he first signed for Ipswich, he was a breath of fresh air in a team struggling to cope with the failure to win promotion and the subsequent loss of its key players. He quickly endeared himself to Ipswich fans with his bright, energetic performances and his assured touch when in posession.
But then Joe Royle lost interest in him. Which wasnt a great problem, once Royle was replaced by Magilton. But very quickly, Magilton did likewise.
And since then, its been endless training with the odd reserve team match thrown in. Yet, the players attitude has, by all accounts, been exemplary. Whilst it has seemed inevitable that he would need to look for another club in the transfer window, there has been no dissent, no criticism of the manager, no lack of enthusiasm, just a willingness to keep on working, remain optimistic and hope.
That hope bore fruit last weekend when the seasons away form reached its nadir at Charlton. For everyone connected with the club it was the lowest point, yet for Sito it has proved to be a huge silver lining. A good performance in a much improved second half team performance has led him to win a place in the starting eleven. A further good performance against Leicester looks to have ensured he will keep that place.
The most unlikely of first team comebacks, but just on attitude alone, one of the most deserving.
How things can change. Jaime Peters will be watching nervously as Sito prepares to hand over that "forgotten man" title.
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