One to Watch – Ross McCormack

Vital QPR has singled out Cardiff forward Ross McCormack ahead of the midweek clash between the two sides.

The 22-year-old forward was born in Glasgow and brought up a Glasgow Celtic supporter, however he started his playing career with their most bitter rivals – Glasgow Rangers.

He made his debut as the 2003-04 season drew to a close, as the Gers wound down the season in style. McCormack came on at Ibrox just after he hour mark for Mikel Arteta as Glasgow Rangers won 4-0 against his future Motherwell.

He started his first match against Dunfermline a couple of weeks later and scored the winner from the penalty spot as the Gers has been reduced to ten men, following the sending off of Michael Mols. Only one game in 2004-05 cast doubt over his Ibrox future, however in the following season he featured far more frequently.

11 games for the Gers saw him bag three goals in all competitions as he sought to vie for his place in the blue half of Glasgow. In the January transfer window he was loaned out to Doncaster Rovers in League One pushing them towards a playoff place which they narrowly missed out on.

Goals against Blackpool, Swindon, Harlepool and Bradford helped to raise McCormack`s reputation in England as Doncaster fell just two points short of sixth placed Swansea City.

A hammer blow in young McCormack`s career was that boss Paul Le Guen decided to release the young Scotsman and in a twist of fate his new club Motherwell faced his old side on the first game of the season. The Gers beat them narrowly 2-1 with McCormack substituted just after the hour mark.

Injury reduced him to just 15 appearances for the Steelmen, three goals came in that period with one against St Johnstone and a brace at home to St Mirren – somehow Motherwell lost both of those games and finished the season in 10th.

In 2007-08 McCormack banished his injury demons to put in a good season for Motherwell – 11 goals for the campaign saw him voted Player of the Month for October 2007 – and earned him a full international call up for Scotland away in the Czech Republic.

After being linked with Premier League sides Wigan Athletic and Middlesbrough in the 2008 January transfer window, no deal materialised – he eventually moved to Cardiff City on a free transfer in June of that year.

McCormack has been a breath of fresh air thus far in the Championship scoring 16 goals in 27 appearances for the Bluebirds as he continues to add to a growing reputation in the game. The Rangers rearguard will have to be at its best to deny the forward when they meet on Wednesday night.

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