By Ben Kosky WEMBLEY-BOUND Simon Walton wants to win promotion this weekend – and do it all over again with QPR in a year s time. Walton, who is in the Hull squad to face Bristol City in Saturday s Championship play-off final, has an added incentive to sh
By Ben Kosky
WEMBLEY-BOUND Simon Walton wants to win promotion this weekend - and do it all over again with QPR in a year's time.
Walton, who is in the Hull squad to face Bristol City in Saturday's Championship play-off final, has an added incentive to shine when his loan spell ends after the game.
He impressed Iain Dowie sufficiently to merit a £500,000 transfer from Leeds to Charlton two years ago - and now has a second chance to play for the new Rangers boss.
"I haven't spoken to him as yet, but I spoke to Gianni Paladini recently," Walton told the Times. "The plan is for me to come back and start afresh and try and make a good impression.
"When I heard the news that the manager had gone, my first thought was 'Oh God, what's going to happen now? But I was pleased when I heard Iain Dowie had got the job.
"I never got the opportunity to play for him at Charlton, so I hope it'll be different this time. But it was a couple of years ago that he signed me and I don't think it really counts for anything now.
"I don't expect any favours from him or anybody else. The fact is that when a new man comes in, everyone's on a blank piece of paper and you have to make sure that when your chance comes you take it.
"I've not played as much football as I would have hoped at Hull, but that's partly because the team's been doing well. When pre-season comes around nobody's fully fit anyway.
"I've got a point to prove. I know I'm capable of being a regular in the QPR team and I'm confident I can do that next season."
Walton has spent most of the past two years on loan - he went to Ipswich for regular football soon after signing for Dowie and then had a spell with Cardiff before his £200,000 move to the Rs last summer.
A broken leg in the pre-season friendly with Fulham ruled him out until Christmas and then, after a handful of appearances for Rangers, he was allowed to go to Hull.
The 20-year-old midfielder was an unused substitute during the Tigers' play-off semi-final success against Watford, but is hoping to be part of a double celebration at Wembley this weekend.
Hometown club Leeds face Doncaster in the League One final on Sunday and Walton added: "Things haven't been that great for Yorkshire football in recent years and that needs to be put right.
"To win a play-off final would be a hell of a finish to the season after the start I had - and it's not something I'd have imagined on that Friday night against Fulham.
"This is the best way to get promoted - if you win - but next year we won't be aiming for the play-offs at QPR. I'm sure we'll be aiming higher than that and no-one will be happy with second best.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here