QPR ready to sell midfielder and loan out youngsters

QPR ready to sell midfielder and loan out youngsters

Ian Cooper, QPR correspondent Thursday, September 22, 2011
12:50 PM

Ephraim could be offloaded in January, while Hewitt is eyed by Football League sides

QPR are willing to sell midfielder Hogan Ephraim during the January transfer window.

Ephraim was not included in Neil Warnock’s 25-man squad for the first half of the season, and is expected to be offloaded on loan to a Championship club within the next month.

The 23-year-old has effectively been put in the shop window at QPR, playing in a series of reserve friendly matches in front of scouts from a number of Football League sides.

Ephraim featured 19 times and scored three goals last season to help his side to promotion from the Championship, but missed out on the 25-man cut as the arrival of Tony Fernandes heralded the signings of midfielders Joey Barton, Jason Puncheon and Shaun Wright-Phillips.

With more new faces potentially arriving in January, Rangers are ready to offload Ephraim.

A QPR source told London24: “I would say that Hogan probably doesn’t feature in the club’s long-term plans, and if the right offer comes along he’ll be available.

“Hogan was desperately unlucky not to make the squad, he was tremendous in the first 15 games of last season, but then got injured and found himself out of the team.

“You feel for the lads who got us into the Premier League and are now going to miss out, but Hogan would be a great signing for any Championship club.”

One player very much in Warnock’s plans is 21-year-old striker Troy Hewitt, who, along with fellow youngsters Michael Harriman and Bruno Andrade, is set to go on loan to a Football League club inside the next month.

Hewitt has impressed for the reserves since joining the Rs from Ryman League side Harrow Borough last season, while defender Harriman and midfielder Andrade both featured against Rochdale in the Carling Cup, and all three have been tipped for bright futures at Loftus Road.

The source added: “Ronnie Jepson [QPR development coach] absolutely loves Troy. He’s got a lot of developing to do, so he really needs to get out there and play.

“He’s a powerful boy, he’s been down in the gym most days; he’s got a great physique, he’s quick, and in all the friendly games we’ve played he’s looked a cut above the rest.

“We chucked him in training with the first team squad and he coped no problem. Experienced guys like Shaun Derry know a footballer when they see one, and they like him.”

Follow Ian Cooper on Twitter @QPRTimes

 

Good luck to Hoags,he'll do alright for someone in the Championship.I think Troy is gonna be a big hit for us,just needs to gain some experience first.Maybe a loan spell at a Div 1 club would be perfect!

 

Ironically we may now face the same situation as many other PL clubs whereby Hewitt finds it impossible to break into the first team no matter how well he does because of an ongoing influx of players. He may end up being sold before we ever see him play in the league. On the other hand youngsters are breaking through at Man U, Tottenham, Arsenal etc. so maybe its just City and Chelsea...