IPSWICH Town’s chances of signing top scorer DJ Campbell in January appear no closer after QPR boss Harry Redknapp admitted he wish he still had the 31-year-old at Loftus Road.

Campbell has been in scintillating form at Portman Road with eight goals in 12 matches during his three-month loan spell.

Unsurprisingly, this has not gone unnoticed at his parent club, especially as QPR are rock bottom of the Premier League with no wins from their first 16 games – and just 13 goals.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference today, Redknapp said: “DJ has done very well for Ipswich.

“I wish he was here now, he’d be very useful for us. He’s an enthusiastic player who gives everything, which is what you need.”

Of course, nothing is set in stone with Redknapp expected to be in the market for a new striker in January and Campbell clearly enjoying his loan spell at Ipswich.

But the comments are a further blow in the week Mick McCarthy lost another loan attacker, Tyrone Barnett, after he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury in a reserve match against the Nike Academy on Monday.

Barnett’s blow, which has seen him return to Peterborough, gives another striker a chance to impress, although Campbell and Daryl Murphy should lead the line at Leeds United tomorrow.

But Jason Scotland’s hopes of pushing himself back into the reckoning appear to be still dashed after McCarthy admitted he opted against using the striker in the training game.

The Blues boss said: “He’s a great character Jason. He’s had his nose pushed out of joint a little bit because people are in front of him, but he’s continued to train.

“He actually wanted to play on Monday, but I chose to give the lads who are first in line for games.”

With Michael Chopra and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas as other options, it could be that Bilel Mohsni is the one that benefits from Barnett’s injury blow.

Of the Southend United loanee, McCarthy added: “Poor Bilel Mohsni, who’s a smashing fella, has had to miss out because he’s one loan too many. I can only name five in the squad.

“He’s somebody who can certainly come on and be a handful. I don’t really see him as a centre-forward – I see him more as a centre-half.

“But last knockings in a game, he’s a useful asset to have as someone to throw balls in the box towards. He’s certainly got a goal in him. He scored a great headed goal from a corner at Tottenham the other week.

“With Tyrone having gone back, he’ll travel with us (to Leeds).”