News

McClaren Rolls Back Earlier Comment About Some Players Future At The Club

|

Queens Park Rangers manager Steve McClaren has rolled back what many believed to be an earlier intimation that some of the younger players at the club had no future at Loftus Road.

Following the dreadful exit earlier in the 2018/19 campaign to Blackpool in the EFL Cup, McClaren’s post-game words appeared to imply that the performances of a few players in the game had basically ended their first-team hopes with us.

“We’ve looked at some of the players – those we can take forward, and those we can’t.”

In fairness, it’s no surprise why many took it on face value and when you look at team selections since, McClaren hasn’t really showed the opposite so assumptions were made about the reopening of the January transfer window and what deals might be done.

WestLondonSport carried fresh quotes ahead of the Stoke City tie though, and he backtracked, insisting any decisions he made were only short-term.

“I think it’s important to clarify that I meant it was not good enough on that night. They are talented young players and we see them progressing and eventually being part of the first team. There will be other chances for them. They’re very much part of this club’s future but they’ve got to learn their trade.”

I’m sure most QPR fans will be better on board with his clarification as we can assume rather than door closed, the likes of Matt Smyth, Osman Kakay, Ilias Chair and Niko Hamalainen (who were on duty that night) will be loaned out come January and given a platform to impress and develop further.

That suits all our purposes better, surely.

Share this article