Grego-Cox in line for first Rangers start
Teenage striker Reece Grego-Cox is set to make his full debut for QPR in Sunday’s end-of-season game against Leicester.
Bobby Zamora looks unlikely to be fit for the trip to the Midlands and head coach Chris Ramsey is ready to turn to the 18-year-old Grego-Cox, who has made three first-team appearances as a substitute.
Darnell Furlong is also expected to be included in the squad and could play some part at the King Power Stadium.
“I’m not on a crusade to put youth in the team just for my own benefit.”
Chris Ramsey
“It’s likely that Reece will start because Bobby’s still injured,” Ramsey said.
“Darnell could start too. Those two could start – I would say more Reece than Darnell.
“It’s important that they [young players in general] get a taste of being on the pitch in a big stadium and feel what it’s like.
“It’s important to protect them but I suppose at some stage you have to put them in at the deep end.”
Furlong, the 19-year-old son of former QPR forward Paul Furlong, made his first-team debut in the defeat at Hull in February and subsequently started against Arsenal and Crystal Palace.
The right-back and Grego-Cox are among a number of players Ramsey believes could play a role for relegated Rangers in the Championship next season.
However, Ramsey, who signed a three-year contract earlier this week, warned: “We haven’t got a wealth of talent.
“There are some players that are involved in the squad that are actually not ready and need some polishing to be able to be considered for the squad for next year.
“I’m not on a crusade to put youth in the team just for my own benefit. Whoever takes to the field has to be worthy of putting a QPR shirt on and carrying out a task for the club.
“But I’m hoping that we can build a pyramid below with players that can come in to the squad and be assets for the club.”
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