Brentford manager Andy Scott says he’s hopeful that Town defender Pim Balkestein will rejoin his club at some stage. The Dutchman was recalled early from his second month at Griffin Park last week.

Scott said: "Ipswich called Pim back to be part of their squad. They saw what he had done for us and he got the games under his belt they wanted.

"But we have a good relationship with Roy Keane and [chief scout] Steve McCall, and we are monitoring the situation.

"We’d like to bring Pim back if the possibility arises, and if not in January, then when the loans window opens again on February 8th."

Another option might be that Tommy Smith, like Balkestein a left-sided central defender, could join the Bees for a temporary spell, although Championship Plymouth are understood to be interested in signing the 19-year-old on loan once their transfer embargo is lifted.

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