SWINDON Town have been dealt a significant blow in the January transfer window after loanee Tyreece Simpson was recalled by parent club Ipswich Town on Sunday.

The striker arrived at The County Ground on July 31 as the club's third summer signing with plenty of promise and went on to score 11 goals in 30 appearances.

Simpson struggled with inconsistency during the early days of his first professional loan spell but turned the opinion of some fans around when forming a strong partnership with Harry McKirdy.

The recall by Ipswich appeared to have come as a surprise to Swindon as head coach Ben Garner gave no impression he would be losing his young striker during Saturday's post-match interview.

Earlier in the month, before Swindon hosted Northampton in League Two, Garner stated he felt none of his season-long loanees would be recalled early.

He said: “I don’t think any of our loan players will get called back.

“Our communication with Ipswich, even last week with Ben Chorley speaking to their general director, is that they are delighted with Tyreece Simpson and they want him to stay at Swindon.

“From our perspective, we want him to stay, and why would you take him back or send him anywhere else?

“He is developing, improving, has scored 10 goals for us now, and it’s the same with the other loan players such as Kaine Kesler-Hayden,” he added.

“They are doing exactly what were said they would do with us. The loan players will play, they will get better, and they will improve.

“I would like to think everyone will stay this January and I am certain Tyreece Simpson will,” said Garner.

But following the news that Simpson had indeed been recalled to Portman Road, Swindon Town's director of football, Ben Chorley, said in a statement on the club's website: "I think it shows the success the club has made with our loans. Tyreece made massive strides here.

"The development in his game and the number of goals for a 19-year-old inexperienced lad was fantastic.  "He's another young player that goes back to his club 100 per cent better tactically and technically."

With his contract up in the summer, Simpson's future is up in the air.

However, there remains the possibility that Swindon could come to an agreement with Ipswich that the 19-year-old comes back on loan after signing a new Tractor Boys deal.

From there, Garner's men could pay a fee to take Simpson permanently once the club's transfer embargo runs out in the summer.

The striker could also sign a new contract at Ipswich and continue his development in Suffolk, or be bought by another club this month.