One to Watch – Andy Gray

Much travelled striker Andy Gray has been identified by Vital QPR as the One to Watch as the Rs travel to Oakwell for a midweek fixture.

Name: Andy Gray

Date of Birth: 15/11/1977

Former Clubs: Leeds United, Bury, Nottingham Forest, Preston North End, Oldham Athletic, Bradford City, Sheffield United, Sunderland, Burnley, Charlton Athletic

Appearances (Goals): 430 (98)

Experienced striker Andy Gray will be out to push Barnsley further to safety and put a dent in QPR`s hopes of securing promotion. Having played for ten clubs in a career that has spanned over 15 years, the forward man will be looking to use all his experience to net against the Championship`s meanest defence.

Gray`s career started off at Leeds where he showed great promise both at the Yorkshire club and during a loan spell at Bury, primarily playing as a central midfielder. He signed for Nottingham Forest in 1998 for £200 000, however only managed to score once in 64 league appearances. During his four years at the club he was sent out on loan to Preston and Oldham, however his goal drought saw him transfer to Bradford City in 2002.

He managed to score 20 goals in 77 appearances for the club, and after having a successful spell at Sheffield United he signed for Sunderland for £1.1 million in 2005. His stint in the Premier League was largely unprofitable as he only managed to score once in 22 appearances, the goal coming on his debut against Charlton Athletic.

In 2006, after a large interest from a number of clubs, Gray signed for Burnley for a fee of £750 000. His early form at Burnley at the end of the 2005/06 season and the start of the next suggested that he would again prove an effective goalscorer in the Championship. He netted 25 times in 60 league appearances for The Clarets before signing for Charlton.

He hit nine goals in 21 appearances at The Valley – almost one in two – for a Charlton side relegated from the Championship. He eventually signed for current club Barnsley in 2009 and has already made over 50 appearances for the club. A definite presence up front, the Rangers defence will have to put Saturday`s shaky performance behind them in order to keep Gray and his Barnsley side quiet.