QUEENS PARK RANGERS have rewarded former Ireland U21 international Olamide Shodipo with a new contract that will extend his stay at the club until 2022.
The 22-year-old winger is nearing a return to full fitness, having been sidelined with an injury following his substitute appearance in the win against Stoke City on the opening weekend of the Championship season.
“Mide had a really good pre-season; he worked hard and performed well,” QPR manager Mark Warburton told the club’s official website. “He was very unfortunate to get the injury that he did but he is well on the road to recovery now and I am delighted for him.
“This is a great move by the club. He’s a player who has a real hunger and desire when he plays. He’s keen to learn and has a great attitude, so he has all the required attributes to do well as a young professional.
“Now his mindset has to be to push on every single day and he showed me during pre-season that he possesses that determination to keep improving.”
Shodipo, whose previous contract was due to expire at the end of this season, was born in Leixlip but moved to London as a child. He first represented Ireland at U19 level, before winning six caps for the U21s under Noel King.
In August 2016, Shodipo was handed his first-team debut by QPR at the age of 19 in a Championship game against Leeds United. He has made a total of 19 senior appearances for the London club, but his progress has been hampered significantly by persistent injuries.
He said: “I’m delighted that the club has shown faith in me, they’ve trusted me and now I want to perform and repay that when I get my opportunity. I’m very grateful.
“The way the team is playing at the moment is amazing. It’s something different to what we have had in the last few years and I hope that we can build on that, continue and do well this season.”
QPR, who also have Irish duo Ryan Manning and Conor Masterson on their books, currently sit in eighth place in the Championship with six games played.
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Awesome men, be unreal if they can defend their crown, national treasures.
An Irish athlete has won a gold medal in rowing, and yesterday 2 of them in swimming thats 3 gold medals for Irish athletes so far. Though 2 of them were representing GB they are still Irish, and it should be noted, not many gold medals come to these shores.
@Kingshu: awh now, We give out shit when the Brits claim ours we can’t be doing the same!
@Mike O’Loughlin: in NI the Irish and British identities are not mutually exclusive, a large number of people are both, that doesn’t make them less Irish.
@Kingshu: no gold yet in rowing
@Kingshu: but you are right all for ni are irish but we perfer when the tri colour and anthem is played
@Mike O’Loughlin: just to add Jack McMillan represented Ireland in the last Olympics.
@Square: Gold in rowing was Hannah Scott from Colraine.
@Kingshu: ya but no tri colour are anthem so she british gold
@Square: Irish athlete won a gold medal. The tri colour isnt the flag of every Irish person in Ireland. Like Jack McMillan we should be proud of another Irish person winning gold.
@Kingshu: na he is GB
@Square: did you say that when he was swimming for Ireland in last Olympics? Representing Ireland or GB he’s still Irish, and I’m proud when any Irish athlete gets a gold medal, are you not?
@Kingshu: when running for GB its different as i said we dont support GB is all im saying i know he is irish but dont support GB
@Square: So you’re letting your hate of GB trump your love for the Irish?
@Kingshu: i hate nobody are any country lets leave it now