QPR star: deadline day signings make us a Championship force
Charlie Austin - Credit: PA Archive/Press Association Images
Charlie Austin believes QPR are a force to be reckoned with in the Championship this season after Harry Redknapp’s deadline day triple-signing.
Redknapp completed season-long loan deals for midfielders Niko Kranjcar and Tom Carroll, as well as defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto, in a dramatic final few hours of the transfer window on Monday evening.
Striker Austin believes that the trio will boost a QPR side who are unbeaten in their five league games so far this season and sit second in the table going into the international break.
“The squad we have and the players we have brought in, we should be a force in the Championship and keep this unbeaten run going,” said Austin.
“QPR have just come out of the Premier League and they still have Premier League players. Look at who they have just brought in on Monday. That shows the ambition.
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“Niko Kranjcar has played in the Premier League and he’s a really exciting player. To learn from him and have him supplying balls in for me, hopefully that will make me a better player.”
Kranjcar arrived at QPR from Dynamo Kiev, having previously played under Redknapp in the Premier League at Tottenham and Portsmouth.
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He was joined by Carroll, the England Under-21 international, who turned down attention from Crystal Palace and Ajax.
Completing the trio was left-back Assou-Ekotto, another player who featured under Redknapp at White Hart Lane.
Meanwhile, striker Andy Johnson remains at QPR despite a last-minute bid from Crystal Palace.
Johnson, who played for the Eagles between 2002 and 2006, was keen to return. However, QPR failed to sign a striker of their own before the deadline, with CEO Phil Beard pulling the plug on the deal just before the 11pm cut-off.
