New loan striker DJ Campbell says he was looking for a “different kind of challenge” when he turned down the chance to rejoin former club Blackpool in favour of a three-month spell at Portman Road. The QPR man netted a fortunate debut goal in last week’s 2-1 defeat to Cardiff.

Campbell had a number of clubs interested in taking him on loan with Town and the Seasiders vying for his signature, the Blues making their move after Paul Taylor was ruled out for at least six weeks with a cracked bone in his foot.

“There were a few clubs. People know that I could have gone back to Blackpool. People may ask why I turned Blackpool down when they’re [near the] top of the league and Ipswich are second bottom,” he told BBC Radio Suffolk.

“For me that doesn’t really matter. I looked at all the options I had and to be honest Ipswich was for me was a different kind of challenge.

“I had great times at Blackpool, scored a lot of goals there. I worked for Ollie, who is a great manager, but I wanted something different.

“I spoke to former players here, I did my homework on Ipswich, got great reviews from friends that used to play here — that it’s a great club, that’s got great tradition, a great history and it’s got good players as well.”

The 30-year-old believes that that squad is good enough to be further up the table: “Obviously the position we’re in in the league doesn’t reflect the players that we’ve got really. I spoke to a few people and they said that the way we’re playing doesn’t merit the position.

“I took all these things into context and made a decision, and I’m delighted with my decision, if I’m honest. I’m happy to be here.”

He admits he’s “nowhere near” full match fitness having made his most recent QPR starts in their 3-1 victory over Wigan in January and in the 4-0 loss to Bolton on the opening day of last season.

The one-time non-league player says it was a frustrating campaign: “Last year, I had a lot of injuries, having never really been injured in my career.

"I went from scoring 13 Premier League goals for Blackpool to not playing at all last year. I made two starts as well as a handful of sub appearances, which isn’t good enough for the standards I set myself.

“It was tough but that’s behind me and now I’m fit and raring to go and give Ipswich a good three months, or even more of my time, you never know. Hopefully it will be a good loan spell.”

Hammersmith-born Campbell says he’s not really sure whether he has a future with his local club QPR, having signed a two-year deal when he left Blackpool for £1.2 million in the summer of 2011: “I don’t know what the situation is with QPR, whether they want me back in January to be in the 25-man squad or not.

“I’ve heard rumours that they do, but as I haven’t actually spoken to the gaffer about it. I just want to concentrate on getting fit and doing my best for Ipswich. I’ll worry about that when my loan period ends.”

Campbell was disappointed not to be on the winning side on his Town debut but his goal was welcome, even if it was by no means a classic: “It was great to get off the mark, albeit a bit of a strange goal. Maybe I should have scored the first chance. Maybe if I was match fit I would have.

“To be honest, I didn’t know what happened. I thought the goalkeeper would have got it and, if I’m honest, kind of bottled it really! And to be fair, he kind of bottled it as well!

“There was a bit of confusion. I didn’t even really know it was in the net. I looked around and I wondered what was going on and I saw people celebrating and I realised it was in the back of the net and I thought ‘fair enough! I’m not going to complain!’.

Photo: Action Images

debenturedave added 12:52 - Oct 12 He scores with his hand .....
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pennblue added 12:57 - Oct 12 Hopefully this chap will start knocking the goals in each week. Our frontline has been so predictable for so long now, his pace will hopefully shake things up a bit. If he can tell teach the forwards how to create space, be more dynamic, and cause defence problems, and tell the midfielders where the channels are, we might actually get somewhere. Oh and can you teach the other lot what the word 'desire' means, because they don't have enough of it.

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TheHighwayman added 13:22 - Oct 12 Can't be blamed for how the ball went into the net. Was a reaction in an instant. He'll be good for us. Let's beat Hull and start the climb. COYB!
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Urchin added 13:43 - Oct 12 good grief - 3 comments made and not one from Talbs77...... ah spoke too soon i feel it wont be long :)
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levington added 13:56 - Oct 12 Campbell's Career May Be Over
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Superfrans added 14:07 - Oct 12 I so want this fella to do well and then sign permanently in January. Coming to the latter stages of his career, he may want to stay closer to London now (rather than go back up to Blackpool) and looks as if he is still sharp. V encouraged by what I saw vs Cardiff. Him and Taylor upfront is a mouth-watering prospect.
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megamoth added 14:30 - Oct 12 Nothing says unemployable outside of football like tattoos on your neck
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petermorris added 15:15 - Oct 12 'Different type of challenge?' Try rugby - they score with their hands.
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Premiertown added 16:02 - Oct 12 Now we have a partially sighted centre forward who is also too small!
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TimmyH added 19:47 - Oct 12 "That it's a great club, that's got great tradition, got a great history and got good players as well" - forgot to say and an appalling manager! Yes agree @megamoth - feel the same! I wonder if he has any convictions?
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h32 added 20:57 - Oct 12 A really good player at Championship level - and would prove to be an excellent permanent signing, doubt that would happen though.
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oscarwhiting added 07:44 - Oct 13 So you choose us over a top of the table team. What's the point in that, but from are view this could really help us.
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