McQUOID A LESSON ON NOT JUMPING TOO SOON

FOR any young player, the chance to move up a division is hard to reject, especially when that player has an agent whispering sweet nothings in his ear.

But move too soon and the consequences can be disastrous. Just ask Josh McQuoid, who this week joined Peterborough on loan from Bournemouth.

In August 2010, McQuoid was hastily thrust into the Bournemouth firstteam, the club’s only option following the sudden departure of top scorer Brett Pitman.

Then just 20, McQuoid responded by scoring 12 goals in 18 games, including consecutive hat-tricks. And that was all it took to persuade Championship side Millwall to shell out £550,000 for his services.

Since then, McQuoid has scored just six times, mainly due to being loaned out or stuck on the subs bench. But that’s what happens when you don’t take the time to learn your trade.

Charlie Austin spent 18 months honing his skills against League One defences before stepping up to Burnley. Jordan Rhodes gave Huddersfield three years before he joined Blackburn.

McQuoid, bar a handful of sub appearances, spent just 18 games as a League One regular.

Like Rhodes and Austin, he is 24. Like Rhodes and Austin, he broke through in 2010. But whilst they are now widely regarded as the finest strikers in the Championship and enviously coveted by Premier League clubs, McQuoid is back at square one, required to prove himself all over again.

Maybe he didn’t want to move. Maybe Bournemouth needed the cash.

But whatever the case, his tale should be told to any young buck prematurely chasing the big time.