QPR star Dickie ‘will undoubtedly attract interest’
Mark Warburton believes QPR defender Rob Dickie is bound to attract interest from clubs this summer.
Dickie, whose season has been ended by a hamstring injury, has been a key player for Rangers since being signed from Oxford United in 2020.
The centre-back, 26, has frequently been linked with Premier League clubs.
And Warburton said: “People talk about good characters and it can be taken lightly, with a pinch of salt.
“But he’s a really solid character. He cares about the game, cares passionately about the team doing well and his own development.
“His ball-playing skills and decision-making are key; when to take it, when to take the extra touch and not get caught.
“At Bournemouth away earlier in the season he made a mistake doing that and you have to learn from those type of mistakes and I think he has.
“I see a young player developing who will undoubtedly attract interest because he has the physicality and technical ability, works on the weaknesses in his game, and is just a really solid character.”
‘No doubt’ QPR have progressed
Warburton is convinced Rangers have made significant progress under him this season, regardless of where they finish in the table.
Improving on last year’s ninth-placed finish was seen as his mission.
A terrible run of results leaves the club facing not only the prospect of missing out on the play-offs, but also perhaps finishing lower than last term.
But Warburton believes there have been mitigating circumstances, with injuries having hit Rangers hard, and that he has fulfilled his brief of achieving year-on-year improvement.
“In my mind, absolutely, in terms of player development and in terms of where we are – we’ve been top six all season,” he said. “There’s no doubt in my mind.”
Warburton, who took over in 2019, looks set to be replaced at the end of the season – or even before then should Rangers be mathematically unable to reach the play-offs.
News of his expected departure has received a mixed reaction from fans on social media, with many believing that Warburton deserves to be retained when his contract ends this summer.
Injuries have been a major factor in QPR’s slump, with talisman Chris Willock sidelined by a hamstring tear and Seny Dieng among four goalkeepers out.
Warburton said: “The fans have been very honest in their feedback and assessment and they’ve been very complimentary about where the team’s moving and the style of play.
“The last six to eight weeks we’ve let ourselves down, but also we have had a lot of factors which have been beyond our control.
“Losing players like Chrissy, Seny, losing Lyndon Dykes for seven weeks, losing four goalkeepers – all those various things.
“Every team has them, but I think they’ve certainly impacted on a tight squad.
“Could we have done more? Potentially yes, of course. You have to look at yourself, for sure.
“But I think we’ve made progress integrating and developing the style and we have to look to at individual player development as well.
“We’ve ticked some boxes, but are we disappointed? Absolutely.”
See also: Warburton set for QPR exit – is it the right call?
28/04/2022 @ 4:53 pm
There’s a big difference in attracting interest and attracting sensible offers. If we really are serious about promotion, we need to hjang onto these top players.
15/04/2022 @ 9:47 am
It’s only my opinion but I feel warburton as a manager is limited due in part to him not having experience as a player however the club is stagnant and I blame that on Les Ferdinand, Lee Hoos, Chris Ramsey and Paul Hall who are responsible for club development.
Not having the intelligence and guile to add players in the January window that would improve our chances of promotion is unforgivable. Hendrik better than Amos? Too dependant on sports science to select who plays, Chair is not improving, boring style of playing across the back, never playing through midfield. Please give us our Rangers back, a rookie striker to give us supporters some excitement, Austin, Gray, are yesteryear.