Oxford United boss Darren Patterson admits he tried to sign Jordan Rhodes, the outstanding young striker who came off the bench to score Ipswich Town's equaliser in their 1-1 draw against FA Cup finalists Cardiff City on Wednesday.

It was the 18-year-old's first senior goal for Town, following his FA Cup brace for Oxford United during his impressive loan spell last autumn.

Patterson said: "He's one of the best kids I have ever worked with, for his honesty, workrate, quality, skill and endeavour - and he's really level-headed.

"He's a proper player, and I have no doubt that he has a quite outstanding future ahead of him.

"I've kept in constant contact with the boy and tried to get him just before the transfer deadline but they wouldn't let him go. He's at a first-class club and were he with us now, I'm sure he would already be worth hundreds of thousands of players.

"Ipswich understandably want him in and around their first team - but that won't stop me trying!"