Ex-Newcastle United hero Les Ferdinand was a big factor in helping Jeff Hendrick secure his loan move to Queens Park Rangers on deadline day.
Hendrick was set to be cut from the Magpies’ 25-man squad. However, Eddie Howe allowed him to go out on loan, which Hendrick really wanted. The Irish midfielder just wanted to get some first-team minutes on a consistent basis.
While some players who are possibly going to be left out turned down loan offers, Hendrick wanted to secure a move before the window shut. He did that, and you have to respect that. He could’ve easily been content with being left out of the squad.
QPR ‘got ahead of the pack’ to secure a deal with Hendrick
Marc Warburton confirmed Ferdinand’s role in the deal on the ‘West London Sport’ YouTube channel. The former Newcastle striker is the director of football at QPR.
Warburton said:”Les was made aware early in the morning.
MORE NEWCASTLE STORIES
“We discussed it throughout the day and then we thought it wouldn’t happen and it came back again”.
“We knew other Championship clubs would immediately move for him when that became news but, thankfully, we got ahead of the pack and got the deal over the line.”
Before deadline day Hendrick had been linked with a loan move to Middlesbrough, according to talkSPORT. But ultimately the move to West London was probably the better opportunity for Hendrick. Both sides are fighting for playoff spots, but QPR aren’t too far off an automatic spot. They seem more likely to keep their playoff spot compared to Boro.
Of the outfield players who were originally in the 25-man squad at the start of the season, Hendrick is the only one to leave this January. For a while, it was clear to some fans that Howe didn’t have much use for the 30-year-old.
The Championship has been a league that the Republic of Ireland international has thrived in before. QPR and Hendrick will hope that is still the case, as they push for promotion to the Premier League.