Beale backs Richards to shine for QPR

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Mick Beale regards Taylor Richards as an excellent prospect (Picture: Ian Randall Photography)

Mick Beale says he has no doubt Taylor Richards will make a big impact at QPR.

The 21-year-old from Shepherd’s Bush suffered a thigh injury soon after being signed from Brighton in the summer on a season-long loan.

He has yet to start a game for Rangers, who will sign him on a permanent deal next summer.


But he will return to the squad for Tuesday’s game against Huddersfield and boss Beale is confident Richards will build up his fitness while the domestic season is paused for the World Cup.

Beale said: “He’s not really had a base of fitness and during the international break he’ll be able to play in a couple of B-team games and a couple of behind-closed-doors games that we’ve got. For someone like Taylor, that’s going to be invaluable.

“This is a young boy that’s got a lot of potential and I think our fans should be optimistic about what he can bring to the club.

“I don’t want to put him under pressure or rush him too soon, but I know that we’ve signed a very, very good player.

“He’s going to be our boy come the summer, so it’s important that I make decisions based on the long term with Taylor to enable him to find full fitness, because I really do feel he’s a player that can help us a lot, moving forward.

“He’s an ideal player for me and my staff to work with, with all our experience. He’s a player that we can really help find a home in football.

“He’s from Shepherd’s Bush, so it’s lovely to have him home. I want him to make QPR his home.”

Richards was on Fulham’s books and also had a spell at Manchester City before joining Brighton.

QPR know there might be offers for Chris Willock and Ilias Chair (Picture: Ian Randall Photography)

He was signed by QPR after being identified as a potential replacement for Chris Willock or Ilias Chair should they be sold in the future.

Beale explained: “I’m hugely excited by what Taylor’s future looks like and that will hopefully play out in a QPR jersey.

“He’s a player that was bought with a conveyor belt in mind. There was some succession planning, knowing there are some vultures out there that might come and knock on the door for one or two of ours in the coming years if they achieve what we want them to achieve.

“He is very much part of us putting a conveyor belt in place so that we have a sustainable squad with some succession planning, so that if people do come and buy one or two of ours we have players like Taylor coming behind them.”