TEENAGE GEM ANIS SHINES FOR GARETH

GARETH AINSWORTH believes he has uncovered a gem to help him in Wycombe’s fight for survival in the Championship.

Albanian midfielder Anis Mehmeti, 19, (above) came off the bench to score his first professional goal and rescue a point for the Chairboys against Ainsworth’s former club, QPR.

“I’m really proud of the young boy, he’s going to be a fantastic player. He’s part of the future,” said the Wanderers boss.

“We’re going to protect him from the media for now but when he’s scored his tenth goal, I’ll let him talk to you. He’s unbreakable, he’s unstoppable at the minute and I can see him potentially playing in the Premier League.”

Mehmeti was playing for Essex Senior League side Woodford Town before his season was ended in March by the pandemic.

Wycombe are now 10 games without a win and QPR seven so both were desperate for maximum points at Adams Park, where the Chairboys equaliser came in the 88th minute after Jason McCarthy’s own goal gifted the visitors a first-half lead.

Rangers boss Mark Warburton says his squad is beginning to feel the strain of the relentless schedule: “We haven’t trained really. We’ve had seven games in 21 days and then nine games in 28 days. All you’re trying to do is make sure your boys are as fit as they can be. It’s a maintenance program - especially the smaller clubs, like Wycombe and ourselves with smaller squads.”

A handful of QPR supporters watched from trees overlooking the ground. “It’s devastating when fans aren’t here,” said Warburton.

WYCOMBE: Allsop 7, Grimmer 7, McCarthy 6, Knight 6, Jacobson 6, Wheeler 6, Freeman 7 (Mehmeti 76, 7), Horgan 7, McCleary 6 (Onyedinma 65, 6), Akinfenwa 7, Kashket 6 (Ikpeazu 76, 6)

QPR: Dieng 8, Kane 6, Dickie 7, Barbet 6, Hamalainen 6, OsayiSamuel 7, Cameron 7, Ball 6, Chair 8 (Bonne 80), Carroll 7 (Willock 76, 7), Dykes 6

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