Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
QPRARE KEEN ONKYLE
Strikertohead forsecondtrial atlondonclub
Albion Rovers star Kyle Doherty has revealed he will be heading back to Queen’s Park Rangers for a second trial after rubbing shoulders with Lyndon Dykes and Dominic Ball in London.
The Cliftonhill striker spent last week with The R’s amid a potential move to join the English Championship side’s under-23 squad.
And it was a surreal experience for the 20-year-old as he found himself around the likes of Scotland international Lyndon Dykes – and even received tips from fellow first team stars Stephen Duke-mckenna, Luke Amos and Dominic Ball, who played for Glasgow Rangers in 2015/16.
Life at Loftus Road would be a far cry from Coatbridge for Doherty and he says he will get another chance to impress the coaches and land a potentially life changing opportunity.
He told the Advertiser: “It’s been a very exciting week for me.
“It’s a lot different to what I’m used to, being down in London by myself last week and training every day.
“But it was a very positive experience and I’ve learned a lot from it being around a club like that.
“I saw big Lyndon Dykes at training, but I didn’t actually speak to him.
“I did manage to get time with Dominic Ball, Stephen Duke-mckenna, Luke Amos and I was talking away to them so that was a great experience.
“They are boys playing in the Championship week in, week out so it’s great for me personally to speak to them and see what you need to do to make that next step.
“They were telling me to keep working hard, focus on my own game, keep doing what I’m doing and I’ll be fine.
“It was a great learning curve.
“I did very well and QPR want me to go back down.
“I don’t know when exactly. I’ll need to speak to Rovers, QPR and my agent about it all, but my agent will deal with that and I can focus on Albion Rovers right now.”
It was a whirlwind week for the former St Mirren youth player as he was flown down south and returned just in time to start Rovers’ 3-2 defeat at home to Forfar on Saturday.
He explained: “The scout got in contact with the club after watching me for two or three months.
“My agent and Colin Woodward at Albion Rovers sorted it all and I was able to go down last week as I was suspended.
“I’m thankful to Rovers for allowing me to go down and I’m grateful to QPR for the opportunity.
“I arrived on Thursday night, chilled in my hotel and then trained Friday to Friday and got a flight up the road to play for Rovers on Saturday.
“It’s a very good opportunity but it’s down to me for working hard.
“Teams are seeing what I’m all about as a player and I’m grateful to Albion Rovers for giving me the platform to perform.
“I just need to keep performing. That will keep breeding confidence and I’ll keep doing what I’m doing.
“If QPR doesn’t work out, maybe other teams will come in, so I’ll just keep going.
“The coaches were giving me good feedback and praising me so when you are getting that down at a club at QPR, it gives you a boost.
“Coming back up the road, the gaffer put me back in and it shows he knows what I can do and he trusts my ability.”