Ipswich’s loan signings are giving their all during their time at Portman Road, striker DJ Campbell has maintained.
Several supporters have been critical of Town’s policy of recruiting players on a temporary basis, with new boss Mick McCarthy taking this season’s loan tally to 10 with deals for Bradley Orr of Blackburn and Peterborough’s Tyrone Barnett.
Right-back Orr made his debut in last week’s 6-0 defeat at Leicester while powerfully-built striker Barnett is ineligible for tomorrow’s home clash with his parent club.
Campbell, the club’s top scorer with four goals in eight games since arriving from QPR, believes all the loan players are up for the fight to avoid relegation to League One.
He said: "We’ve come to a great club and we know how important it is for them to stay in this league. We know what it means to the fans and we should all be doing our very best for them.
"I can only speak for myself but I like to think I give my all in every game I play and I’m sure the rest of the lads are the same.”
Campbell knows Orr from their time together at Loftus Road and is confident he can recover from a tough baptism against the promotion-chasing Foxes.
He added: "Bradley’s a good guy and I’ve played with him enough times to know that. I’m not sure how much he has played this season but it was tough for him to come into the side against Leicester.
"He will only get better the more games he plays for us. The gaffer has brought him in for his experience because he’s been in and around this league for a number of years and he can help the young lads.
"We need to be gelling and pulling in the same direction if we are going to get out of the trouble that a club of this stature shouldn’t be in.”
Meanwhile, Campbell is pleased with his contribution to date and believes there is more to come before his loan deal expires in January.
He said: "I’m happy with how it has gone so far. Maybe I could have nicked a few more goals and played a little bit better, but I hadn’t played for such a long time when I came here.
"To join Ipswich and get games has been a breath of fresh air for me. The more games I play, the sharper I will get and, I should imagine, the more goals I will score.”