Millwall interested in QPR striker Smith

Millwall are interested in taking Matt Smith on loan from QPR. 

The target man, signed from Fulham two years ago, had a key role under former manager Ian Holloway and scored 11 goals for the R’s last season.

But he has been a bit part player since Holloway was replaced by Steve McClaren, who has tended to use Smith as a substitute.

Millwall could potentially offer him first-team football but his wages might well prove to be a stumbling block to a deal.

The Lions made an enquiry about Smith after striker Tom Elliott was ruled out for around six weeks with a shoulder injury.

Smith recently admitted being frustrated at his lack of game time.

“It’s been a very frustrating spell personally. I try just to give my all to the side when I get given the opportunity,” said Smith, whose QPR contract runs until 2020.

“I’ve had to be selfless. It’s maybe not going the way I’d like personally, but no-one’s bigger than the team.

“I’ll give my all whatever role the manager gives me, whether that’s coming on for 10 minutes at centre-half to shore up a 1-0 or chasing a lead or coming on in stoppage time – which I’ve done quite a few times.

“It’s different, and largely frustrating, but at the end of the day I’ll do my all for the lads.

“I’m here to start games and try to contribute. It’s been frustrating because I’m used to contributing.

“Last season I felt I contributed quite a lot whereas this season it’s been frustrating from that angle.

“You want to be turning in performances that are ultimately going to help the team.”

Smith, 29, dropped down the pecking order after the loan signings of Nahki Wells and Tomer Hemed in August.

He scored in the 4-1 defeat at home to Preston on Saturday after coming on to play alongside Wells up front.

It is a combination Smith believes has potential, but he accepts the team’s largely encouraging campaign under McClaren has made it difficult for him to get a look in.

“That’s a partnership that, on paper, should work well but hasn’t maybe been given enough time to blossom because the forwards have been doing very well,” he said.

“Credit to the lads, particularly the forward lads, they’ve been in good form for the majority of the season so it’s been difficult to break in.”

And Smith is well aware the main reason he has not been a first-choice player under McClaren is the manager’s preferred style of play – a passing game that Smith is simply not suited to.

Smith acknowledged: “Certainly the type of player that I am is conducive to ways of playing and largely the team has been quite a counter-attacking team which maybe isn’t suited to my strengths.

“I don’t need anybody to tell me what my strengths and weaknesses are. I’m well aware of what they are.

“So it’s maybe not been set up for me to excel. But at the same time I am where I am and I want to help the team as much as I can.”