Hasselbaink backs Hoilett after QPR draw

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink hailed goalscorer Junior Hoilett for his contribution in QPR’s 1-1 draw at Bristol City.

The winger stepped up in the absence of the hamstrung Charlie Austin, drilling in from just outside the area to put Rangers ahead just before the hour and hitting the crossbar late on.

But it was also his lively overall efforts which earned him the praise of his new boss.

“I’m very pleased. He’s getting back to where he used to be,” Hasselbaink said of Hoilett.

“He’s a very good little player, a confidence player who needs somebody to believe in him and we definitely do. We definitely like him. He’s one that can create and also score.

“Junior is one of those players I like. I like those kind of players. I like wingers. You need wingers in your team for your strikers but also for the crowd.

“You want to put the kind of football on the pitch that’s entertaining and those kind of players can do that and Junior’s a very important ingredient in our squad.”

Hasselbaink said it was too early to assess Austin’s injury, but said he hoped it would not keep him sidelined for too long.

“Charlie had a little tweak in his hamstring yesterday [Friday] in training and we didn’t want to take a risk,” said the Dutchman.