Holloway convinced target man will transform Washington

Ian Holloway believes playing Conor Washington alongside a target man will get the best out of the QPR striker.

Rangers have agreed a deal to sign Matt Smith from Fulham ahead of the transfer deadline.

And R’s boss Holloway thinks that can make all the difference to Washington, who has struggled to make an impact since being signed from Peterborough a year ago.

His second-half strike in the defeat against Burton on Saturday was only Washington’s third league goal for Rangers.

But Holloway said: “I’m convinced that Conor Washington’s a really good centre-forward.

“If I could get the right people to play with him, in the right structure, then I think he’s going to score.

“We had two up front (against Burton) and, blow me down, he scored.

“But I need those choices and it’s not easy getting centre-forwards in these (January) windows, but we’re having a go.”