QPR star Freeman ‘a Premier League player’ – McClaren

Steve McClaren says Luke Freeman’s brilliant goal against Aston Villa highlighted the quality the QPR playmaker possesses.Preview Changes (opens in a new window)

The likes of Middlesbrough have previously attempted to buy the former Arsenal youngster, who hit the net with a glorious 25-yard strike in Rangers’ 2-2 draw at Villa Park on New Year’s Day.

“He’s always capable of that. I thought Freeman was excellent all game,” said McClaren.

“His quality – that’s a Premier League player. He’s a bundle of energy, controls it and does the work.”

McClaren believes QPR’s display against Villa showed they fear no-one in the Championship.

On-loan Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham’s goal – his second of the match and 16th of the season – earned a point for Villa.

Ebere Eze had put Rangers ahead after Freeman’s stunning strike hauled them level.

Abraham’s equaliser denied Rangers a victory which would have put them seventh in the Championship table.

They are now ninth, but just two points away from the play-off places and are unbeaten in six matches – a run which included a victory over Middlesbrough and QPR’s first-ever win at Nottingham Forest.

QPR players ‘not afraid’

And manager McClaren was more than happy with the display against a Villa side that started strongly.

“It’s a tough place to come, but a great place to come,” McClaren said.

“I said to them before the game: ‘This is why you’re in football; New Year’s Day, 40,000 people’. They’ve got the courage, commitment and spirit to get a result.

“They performed magnificently to get a draw. It could have been better, but we’re delighted with the performance – it had everything.

“We’ve had tough games recently; we beat Middlesbrough and won at Forest. So we’re not afraid. We always say we need to break through and get results against the top boys.”

QPR were woeful away from home prior to McClaren’s appointment during the summer but have fared much better on the road this season.

McClaren added: “You’ve got to have character to get results away from home and that’s taken us a long way – the spirit.

“But what I liked today too was the way we got the ball down and played football.”