LAST UPDATE | 19 Jan 2021
QUEENS PARK RANGERS have sent Republic of Ireland U21 international Conor Masterson out on loan.
The 22-year-old centre-back will spend the remainder of the season with League One club Swindon Town, who are managed by former Ireland midfielder John Sheridan.
Masterson is the second Kildare native to make a temporary switch to Swindon this month. He links up with goalkeeper Mark Travers, who has joined Sheridan’s side on loan from Bournemouth.
QPR’s faith in the former Liverpool youngster is evidenced by the club’s decision to reward him with a new three-year contract back in September.
However, he has found his opportunities limited this season, making just six first-team appearances. His last outing in the Championship came in a 3-2 win against Rotherham United in November.
Masterson’s prospects under manager Mark Warburton were hindered further by last week’s arrival of former Dutch U21 international Jordy de Wijs on loan from Hull City.
A key member of the most recent Ireland U21 squad, Masterson captained the side in the European Championship qualifiers against Italy, Iceland and Luxembourg following Jayson Molumby’s graduation to the senior set-up.
Swindon, who were promoted last summer as League Two champions, are fighting to avoid a swift return to the fourth tier of English football.
They languish second from bottom in the table, two points from safety, ahead of this Saturday’s trip to Charlton Athletic.
Glad TJV got the stage win for van Hooydonck. You could see what it meant to Vingegaard at the end.
Although Vingo is crazy good, would love to see Kuss win the Vuelta. And I mean WIN it and not handed it by team orders. Although not sure what team orders are for TJV.
@Kevin Dillon: Angliru tomorrow will reveal all. Looks like they’re going with a strategy of having Vingegaard attack and force the others to decide between trying to follow him (and ideally have Kuss and Roglic sit on their wheel) or wait behind with Kuss. Apparently van Hooydonck is awake and doing well which is great news in what has been a horrific year in the peloton.
I would also love to see Kuss win it, and as you say not be handed it which jumbo could possibly do. To be fair though their best option is letting Jonas attack and see if Kuss can just sit on whoever tries to follow and if he ends up in red at the end brilliant. Putting all their eggs in one basket and using up Jonas and Roglic to be domestique for Kuss would be dangerous even though he’s in red and deservedly so but not sure he would be able to respond to attack after attack. Cracking race and fantastic tactics and options from JV as usual.
@sean murphy: 100% on jumbo’s tactics.ostly always get them right.