front of him, including Emile Heskey and Mikael Forssell, which made it difficult for him to break into the starting eleven. During the second half of the 2005–06 season, Kuqi was sent out on loan to Blackpool on a month's loan deal. A day after joining the club, he made his debut in the club's 4–2 win against Doncaster Rovers, coming on as an 81st-minute substitute. Kuqi subsequently started in the club's 3–0 loss away to MK Dons, and played a total of four times for Blackpool before returning to his parent club. In March 2006, Kuqi was loaned out once more, this time to Peterborough United until the end of the season. However, Kuqi played just once for the club, starting in Peterborough's 2–2 draw with Barnet, before returning to Birmingham a month earlier than expected. At the end of the 2006–07 season, Kuqi was released by Birmingham, having not made a single first–team appearance. Groningen In June 2006, Kuqi signed for FC Groningen on a free transfer, where he was to compete for a place in the team with players such as the former Manchester United striker Erik Nevland. After a range of conflicts, Kuqi was released by Groningen in August 2006, having made no first-team appearances for the club, with the season just two weeks old. Carl Zeiss Jena Six months later, he signed an 18-month contract with FC Carl Zeiss Jena after failing to win a contract during a trial at his brother's former club, Ipswich Town. However, Kuqi struggled to make first-team appearances for the club, and was subsequently featuring regularly in the reserve side, FC Carl Zeis Jena II, in the German NOFV-Oberliga. TuS Koblenz In January 2008, he joined TuS Koblenz on a three-year contract. During the second half of the club's 2007–08 campaign, Kuqi scored four goals in nine appearances, scoring his first goal for Koblenz in a 1–1 draw away to FC St. Pauli. He also scored in the club's 3–2 away win against 1. FC Kaiserslautern ten days later. He subsequently started the following season as the club's point of attack, and played a total of 29 games during the season, scoring five times as Koblenz narrowly avoided relegation. Kuqi remained at the club ahead of the 2009–10 season, although his season was disrupted by persistent injuries, only managing to play in 14 games, scoring twice in losses against FC