Junior Hoilett Turns 30 - FlashbackJuly 2012
EXCLUSIVE: JUNIOR JOINS R'S REVOLUTIONwww.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2858641,00.html
Mark Hughes has bolstered his attacking options with the signing of highly-rated Canadian starlet David 'Junior' Hoilett.
The 22 year-old, who is out of contract after opting not to sign a new deal with Blackburn Rovers, has penned a four-year contract at Loftus Road, after Rangers beat off stiff competition from a number of Clubs for his prized signature.
Hoilett becomes QPR's seventh signing of a hectic summer at Loftus Road, following in the footsteps of Rob Green, Ryan Nelsen, Fabio Da Silva, Ji-Sung Park, Samba Diakite and Andy Johnson.
Speaking exclusively to
www.qpr.co.uk, a delighted Hughes hailed the arrival of the attacking midfielder, commenting: "Junior is a player I know very well.
"He was just a young boy trying to make his way in the game when I had him at Blackburn. It was difficult for him then because of work permit issues, but I had him training with the First Team very early on because his talent was there for all to see.
"We knew then he was going to have a great future and he's certainly showed that talent over the last few seasons at Ewood Park.
"He's shown he's a player of top quality and a player that can makes things happen, both on his own and as a team player.
"He's certainly a player that will enhance what we've got in the group and I am delighted he's chosen to come to us."
Hoilett enjoyed a season to remember on a personal level last term, scoring seven goals and providing five assists for a Rovers side who were eventually relegated to the Championship.
R's fans will also remember his goal against the Hoops back in January 2011, in an FA Cup third round tie at Ewood Park which Rovers won 1-0.
A delighted Hoilett told http://www.qpr.co.uk: "QPR are a Club that are certainly heading in the right direction. The ambition to take this Club to the next level was something I really wanted to be part of.
"The Manager and the owners have huge ambitions to achieve things here and this is the perfect place for me to further my career."
He added: "The Manager obviously played a big part in my decision to come here. He's someone I know well here having worked with him and his backroom team at Blackburn.
"I signed my first professional contract under him and I will always remember that and be grateful to him. Working under such a great manager will help me to develop my skills and further my career.
"I have not achieved anything yet. I am still at the early stages of my career and have a lot to learn. As a young player it is important to stay humble, and listen to your family and friends.
"I'm really happy to be here and can't wait to pull on the Rangers shirt."
QPR
JUNIOR HOILETT: IN PROFILEQPR sponsored by Share article:
THE signing of David 'Junior' Hoilett represents quite a coup for Queens Park Rangers.
Undoubtedly one of the hottest prospects in the Premier League, the dynamic wide-man's sensational form for Blackburn Rovers last season - despite being involved in a relegation battle - caught the eye of a number of Europe's big-guns.
Hoilett, however, has chosen Loftus Road as his preferred destination - and R's fans can now lick their lips at the prospect of the 22 year-old's exciting displays from the wing.
The Canadian-born attacker is a product of Blackburn's Academy and was on the books at Ewood Park from the age of 13.
He enjoyed two loan spells in Germany earlier in his career, spending time with both SC Paderborn 07 and FC St. Pauli respectively.
Hoilett then returned to Ewood Park and, after a successful work permit application in the summer of 2009, he made his senior debut for Rovers on the opening day of the 2009/10 campaign.
After notching his first Premier League goal during the 2010/11 campaign - also scoring the winner in an FA Cup third round victory over QPR the same season - Hoilett went from strength to strength.
Four more league goals arrived for the youngster before the conclusion of that particular campaign, but it was last term when Hoilett improved his stock.
He scored seven goals and made five more in the league, while Hoilett went on to make 37 appearances in all competitions.
The midfielder was also named as one of the 13 'players to watch in 2012' by world football governing body FIFA in January.
Though born and raised in Canada, the as-yet uncapped Hoilett is also eligible to represent both USA and Jamaica.
Nice piece re Hoilett at QPR
Goal.com
Arsenal & Tottenham have missed a trick by allowing Hoilett to join QPRThe versatile attacker has re-united with former manager Mark Hughes at Loftus Road but only after two of London's biggest clubs decided against signing him
By Chris Myson
Junior Hoilett may not be a player who has occupied as many column inches as Robin van Persie or Luka Modric this summer, but he was one of the most exciting properties up for grabs on the transfer market.
Alongside Yakubu, the 22-year-old was the standout figure in the poor Blackburn Rovers side which suffered relegation last season, scoring seven times and contributing as many assists.
Constantly the source of inspiration, it always seemed that he was destined for better things, even if Steve Kean’s side had avoided the dreaded drop to the Championship.
With his contract running down, it became apparent he would be leaving Ewood Park whatever the outcome of the Premier League season, and he soon had a long list of clubs admiring him.
And why not? With his contract expiring, the Canadian was available on a free transfer, with just a compensation fee needing to be paid. He has three years of top-flight experience, youth on his side, bags of ability and the versatility to play in a number of attacking positions, most notably on either wing or in the centre behind a main striker.
THE INSIDE TRACK ON HOILETT
GREG STOBART, CORRESPONDENT
The battle for Hoilett’s signature ended as a straight fight between QPR and Borussia Monchengladbach - but only after a number of Premier League clubs had shown interest in the exciting winger.
Arsenal, Tottenham, Newcastle and Everton - along with Rangers - were at the forefront of those interested and all made contact with his advisors after tracking his progress at Blackburn.
The four clubs all pulled out of talks for the same reason: money. Hoilett may have been at the end of his contract with Blackburn but QPR will have to pay significant compensation - as much as £5m - on top of the player’s £60,000-a-week salary.
The clubs decided against it. Spurs in particular had doubts about Hoilett’s consistency while Arsenal decided to focus on other wide targets, signing Germany international Lukas Podolski from Koln.
It appeared certain Hoilett would join a top-six club and Arsenal and Tottenham expressed an interest and both looked to be close to securing his signing at one stage.
In the end, though, they turned their backs on the deal, allowing the attacker to sign a four-year deal at QPR. Despite long reported interest from Borussia Monchengladbach, it was always hard to envisage him leaving the Premier League.
It is hard not to think that both Arsenal and Spurs have missed a trick in not making their concrete interest count by securing a deal. While there is a compensation fee to consider, that is only a maximum of £5 million – within both clubs’ respective budgets – and the wages, while high for a young player, are still affordable.
For the Gunners this appeared to be an ideal Arsene Wenger signing. A young, technically gifted player who could be developed while immediately playing an important part in the team. The option was always there to sell him on at a profit in the future too; his value is not going to go down.
First-team football may have been harder to come by with Arsenal, but as they struggle to sign Santi Cazorla or Nuri Sahin to add more guile to their ranks, it appears they have missed an opportunity closer to home.
Andre Villas-Boas may have Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon at his disposal, but in the latter part of last season Tottenham were caught out by the lack of high quality squad cover they had below their most important performers.
With Modric also likely to leave, there is certainly room for creative additions to Spurs’ squad and Hoilett’s ability to play in a number of attacking positions could have soon seen him establish himself as a key first-team figure.
For both clubs, the move made sense on paper and it was surprising when their interest cooled so suddenly.
The move may actually work out well for Hoilett’s development. At QPR he can still be the key figure like he was at Blackburn, the man who his team rely on, as well as enjoying the regular first-team football in the Premier League he needs to hone his skillset.
But there must be a feeling of what might have been in the player’s camp, with the opportunity to play with some top calibre players and in the spotlight having eluded him and another opportunity unlikely to emerge for the foreseeable future.
Hoilett said after signing: "Mark Hughes played a big part in my decision to come here. He's someone I know well here having worked with him and his backroom team at Blackburn.
"I signed my first professional contract under him and I will always remember that and be grateful. Working under such a great manager will help me to develop my skills and further my career.
“QPR are a club that are certainly heading in the right direction."
He will want to enjoy a couple of strong seasons at QPR, a club who themselves are upwardly mobile, and make it impossible for the biggest clubs to ignore him next time around.
Arsenal, Tottenham and others could get their chance to make a move again, but you suspect when that time arrives they will have to dig a lot deeper into their pockets and may look back to this summer, ruing the fact they did not act differently Goalcom
Mirror - Wat DJ: New Watford boss Gianfranco Zola eyes move for QPR striker DJ Campbell
Striker Campbell, 30, made just two Premier League starts for Rangers last season
July 2012[/b]
The thread re Hoilett reportedly signing for QPR
qprreport.proboards.com/thread/32443Put on the Official Site and then removed!