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JASON Scotland hopes his impressive performance at Barnsley will kick-start negotiations over a new Ipswich Town contract.

The powerful front man played an integral part in the Blues’ incredible second-half fightback at Oakwell on Saturday, scoring the fifth as Paul Jewell’s men came from 2-0 down at the break to win 5-3 and record their first points in eight Championship games.

It was an individual display which will undoubtedly have caught the eye of numerous clubs who had watched on via the Sky television cameras.

That’s because, with little over eight months of his two-year deal left to run, the 32-year-old Trinidadian will be able to speak to other clubs regarding an end-of-season Bosman free transfer switch come the start of the New Year.

However, despite the fact that Blues boss Paul Jewell gave him permission to speak to Championship rivals Blackpool just prior to the summer transfer window closing, Scotland’s preference would be still be to remain in Suffolk.

“I’m just giving my all in each and every game, trying to perform well for the club and then we’ll see what happens,” said striker, who admitted the team owed a good performance to the fans and their under-fire manager.

“I haven’t talked to the gaffer yet but I want to stay and I’m enjoying my football.”

Throughout Town’s recent seven-game losing streak, criticism was levelled at the squad’s experienced players – the majority of whom have played in the top-flight – for not caring enough about their team’s position.

That’s something Scotland – who played in the Premier League with Wigan – strongly disputes though, saying: “I think everyone still has the hunger and they want to play in the Premier League. When we were winning games, we were having fantasies of getting into the top flight. People still have dreams of playing in the big time. I certainly still want a crack of it.

“We would like to think we could get back up there again. It has been difficult, we lost a few on the bounce and confidence went. Some games we were unlucky and some games didn’t go our way. But hopefully we can get a couple of wins under our belts and move back up again.”

Scotland is one of a number of Town players in the final year of their contracts, the list including the likes of captain Grant Leadbitter, winger Josh Carson and right-back Carlos Edwards – the latter having already been linked with a move to American side LA Galaxy this week.

Back in the summer, Jewell insisted that he would not let the contract situation drag on as long as it did last season under previous boss Roy Keane – the Blues eventually losing key men Gareth McAuley and David Norris for nothing.