The lowdown on QPR trialists Da Costa and McDonald
QPR have taken Norwich City youngster Rui Da Costa on trial.
The 19-year-old midfielder featured for Rangers’ development side at Burnley on Monday afternoon.
He came on for Birmingham City’s Wes McDonald – who is also on trial – after just 15 minutes at Turf Moor, where Burnley won 3-1.
• Da Costa was previously at the S&T academy, which was co-founded by Troy Townsend – father of former QPR loanee Andros.
• During his time there he had a trial at Chelsea but was eventually snapped up by Norwich, where was signed as a scholar in 2015.
• He returned to action in 2017 after 14 months out with a knee injury.
• Scholarships are usually for two years, but because of his injury his was extended to a third year in order to give him more time to impress.
West London Sport last week revealed that attacking midfielder McDonald, 20, had joined the R’s on trial.
He subsequently played in an Under-23 match against Sheffield United and had his trial extended.
• McDonald was on Fulham’s books before signing for Birmingham in December 2013.
• He was given a new one-year contract at St Andrews last summer but is coming towards the end of that deal and looks set to move on.
• McDonald scored 10 goals for Birmingham’s development side last season but has not made a senior appearance for the club.
• He had first-team experience during a spell on loan at non-League Solihull Moors earlier this season. He was previously on loan at Nuneaton Borough.
