GARETH Ainsworth says he will happily back young striker Sinclair Armstrong to score the winner against Sunderland to cap what has been a memorable week for the youngster.
The striker came off the bench to make his senior international debut for the Republic of Ireland against Holland on Sunday and just two days later scored as the Irish U21s beat San Marino 3-0.
Armstrong revealed after the Dutch game he wanted to find the net to seal three points for the Hoops against Sunderland at Loftus Road this weekend, a prediction his club manager is delighted to endorse.
“Of course I would,” said Ainsworth.
“You want to hear all of your strikers say that. They want to score the winning goal – that is what they are there for.
“We’ve given them all a great structure this year to go and do their stuff. We are still teaching Sinclair. I think there is plenty to learn for him.
“There is no way he is the finished article, he is still this huge potential which is slowly, slowly coming together but he has got work to do on the training pitch.
“He is definitely a threat and there is a chance he can score the winning goal.”
Sinclair has spoken about his desire to find the target more often for QPR, although Ainsworth is reluctant to set any figure for the 20-year-old to aim for this season.
The QPR boss said: “Strikers always have this double figure target in mind, but there will be no public target set for Sincs because that is when you start looking at people not reaching it and not succeeding.
“It is total success for Sinclair. He has done it already and has definitely got some career ahead of him if he does everything right – keeps learning, keeps humble and keeps his feet on the ground.
“But those feet are pretty fast – that is important as well because he is going to kill some defences in the Championship. That is what we are utilising.”
Sinclair isn’t the only QPR striker to have been away on international duty this week, with the now fit again Lyndon Dykes coming off the bench for Scotland against England at Hampden Park on Tuesday.
Ainsworth was delighted to see Dykes back on the pitch again with this Saturday’s Sunderland game quickly followed by a midweek Loftus Road date with Swansea before a Friday night trip to Birmingham.
And although happy to reveal Dykes will almost certainly feature in what is a hectic upcoming schedule, the boss was also keen tom point out QPR’s attack doesn’t just depend on one player.
Ainsworth explained: “It isn’t just Lyndon, everyone is going to be so important. It is all about the squad depth. I heard rumours saying we were going to get a striker in but with Lyndon, Sinclair Armstrong, Rayan Kolli, Charlie Kelman and Alfie Lloyd we’ve got strikers at this club.
“It is about time some of these young boys got the chance.
“We gave Sinclair the chance and look at what he has done. Rayan Kolli for me is coming forward and doing really well.”
The manager added: “It is about the whole squad but Lyndon will definitely be involved. He is a top player.
“He suffered with that injury and would have featured a lot more and maybe even in the international games but I thought he did ok.
“He looked like the Lyndon that we know and was unlucky with the header he tried to guide towards goal, but his service was quite limited because England did keep the ball quite a bit.
“All I wanted was him not to go off before the final whistle and that was a bonus.
“I’m sure Lyndon will be raring to go for these next few games.”
QPR had a pretty uneventful deadline day in the end before going on to enjoy a welcome 2-0 win at Middlesbrough before the international break.
One name strongly linked with a move away was Ilias Chair and Ainsworth is not only thrilled to keep the Moroccan but also praised his attitude around the club.
He said: “Ilias has been absolutely fantastic. Ilias has bought into QPR and it has been tough for him.
“I’ve been in a very similar position to Ilias where there were rumours going around and you are checking your phone.
“By the way, when I was moving it was Ceefax you had to check, it wasn’t the social media of a million posts that you probably saw over the summer!
“I just take my hat off to Ilias. We have a hell of a player in Ilias Chair and I’m glad to say he is a hell of a player for us until at least the next window.
“I’m sure Ilias is 100% buying into QPR right now.”
Follow us on Twitter @sportsouthlndn
