Brentford boss Andy Scott has admitted he may be fighting a losing battle to land Ipswich Town striker Jordan Rhodes on loan if the youngster continues to impress new boss Roy Keane.

The tanned 19-year-old netted the Tractor Boys’ third goal in Wednesday’s 3-1 win at Griffin Park evoking memories of his successful spell with the League Two champions last season.

Scott is hunting striking options with hit man Charlie MacDonald set to miss the opening months of the coming campaign as he continues to recover from summer shoulder surgery.

Rhodes caught the eye in his first run out in front of Portman Road chief Keane this week and the Brentford manager reckons form like that only dents hopes of landing the youngster to help spearhead his attack next season.

“I spoke to Roy before the game but that is the first time he has had the chance to see what Jordan can do,” he said.

“I’d love to have him back here but he knows he has to impress Roy and see what happens at Ipswich.

“If he carries on doing that and if he does what he did here he’ll impress anyone, because he’s a good player, a fantastic kid and I hope he does well wherever he goes.”

Former Notts County winger Myles Weston stood in up front for MacDonald this week and was instrumental in creating a goal for strike partner Ben Strevens, who could have notched a hat-trick on another night.

Scot, who has been impressed with 29-year-old ex-Dagenham & Redridge frontman thus far, was pleased with his front two as well as the way all his new faces have settled in.

And he has promised to continue looking at all his options between now and the start of the campaign.

“Charlie will miss the first couple of months and that was another reason for looking at Myles up there,“ he added.

“It is something we bought him for because he played as a striker at Charlton. It is somtehing we can use in the season.

“He’s got good feet and is something we can look at. It is up to him to find a place in the side that is beneficial to us for each game. Up front or out wide.

“That is what pre-season games are for is to make sure we know all the options, so that when the season starts we can change things around if we need to - which we weren’t able to do so much last year.”