Gaffer Mick McCarthy said after the match "Jody is remarkable. He is more resilient than anyone else I know. He has nearly left a couple of times and never wanted to. He has come back in, lifted the trophy last season and he is a Premier League player this season so fair play to him. Jody is a leader for us. He is one of the elder statesman in the team. He is a fabulous professional and an example to all of the younger ones in the team."
Team mate Kevin Doyle said of his captain "Jody is a shining example and with the way he leads his life. Since I came to the club in the summer I have seen it. He is in the gym every day, he trains hard, he is always getting massages. He is looking after himself and I think he has got plenty of years left in him.
"He is a fit man and your centre-halfs anyway seem to get a few extra years over centre-forwards and midfielders. There is no reason why he shouldn't get another five, six, seven years.