Veteran midfielder Gareth Ainsworth has joined League One strugglers Wycombe Wanderers on a one month loan deal, while Steven Reid's loan to QPR from Blackburn has been confirmed.

Ainsworth is QPR’s longest serving player having joined from Cardiff in 2003 and is a firm fans’ favourite at Loftus Road. He twice took caretaker control of the team last year after joining the coaching staff under Iain Dowie but decided this summer to take a step back and focus solely on playing. He has made two cameo substitute appearances so far at Exeter in the League Cup and at home against one of his former clubs Preston but has otherwise been restricted to reserve team action only.

With Steven Reid and Tommy Williams being added to the squad in the last fortnight it was always likely that some money would have to be trimmed from the wage bill and Ainsworth has been allowed to join League One outfit Wycombe on a one month loan. Wycombe are now under the guidance of former QPR favourite Gary Waddock who managed Ainsworth at Loftus Road for a brief period in 2006. Waddock has endured a tough start to life at Adams Park after leaving Aldershot to succeed Peter Taylor – Wycombe are bottom of the league, eight points adrift of safety and lost 6-0 at Huddersfield in their last league game.

Waddock told Wycombe’s official website: “I know him from my QPR days and he’ll give us what we need at the moment – experience and fighting spirit. He is totally committed and determined to pull us out of the situation we are in and you will see that when he pulls on the Wycombe shirt.”

Meanwhile Steven Reid’s one month loan deal to QPR from Blackburn has been confirmed and the Republic of Ireland international is in the squad travelling to Doncaster today ahead of tomorrow’s Championship clash with Rovers. Reid has suffered badly with injuries recently, missing the whole of 2006/07 with hamstring and back problems and then sitting out the majority of last season with a knee injury but he insists he is fit and raring to go after completing his move to W12.

Reid said: “It has all happened very quickly, I’m delighted to be here and I'm ready to get going. I have had a few injuries over the last couple of years and people may think I've gone off the radar a bit, so this is an opportunity for me to come in and play a few games. I am looking forward to the challenge. I know what the Championship is about from my time at Millwall. It's a great league to be involved in and hopefully I can bring some experience to the camp. I have been fit for the last couple of months, but have found myself out of favour at Blackburn. That's football, but I am available for selection this weekend and can't wait to get going. There is clearly a very good squad here. They're doing well in the league and hopefully I can add to that so we can keep our place in the play-offs, and maybe even kick on a bit more. If it goes well, perhaps my stay here will be extended - we will just have to see how things go.”

Manager Jim Magilton told the club’s official website: “This is a significant loan signing for the football club.The fact we've been able to attract a player of Steven's calibre to the club speaks volumes of the Board and the direction in which the club is heading. He is a class act. He can pass, he can tackle, he can shoot, he's box-to-box - he's a very, very good player. We were bit light on numbers in the central midfield department following the long term injuries to Martin and Gavin, but Steven's arrival will give everyone a lift and will hopefully help us to kick on over the coming weeks."

Elsewhere the R’s face competition from a host of clubs for the signature of goalkeeper Tom Heaton in January. Heaton is currently on loan at Rochdale from Man Utd after spending three months at Loftus Road and Jim Magilton had hoped to sign the goalkeeper permanently when the transfer window opens. However Heaton would come to Loftus Road knowing he would start as second choice behind Radek Cerny and that might give other clubs, Nottingham Forest and Norwich are said to be watching the situation closely, the edge.

Heaton’s adviser, former Man City keeper Tony Coton, told Sky Sports: “Tom's contract is up in the summer and he will be leaving Manchester United. Tom is ready to move on as he wants to be playing regularly at this stage of his career. Ideally he would like to move on in January rather than waiting until the summer as he just wants to be playing. There are about half a dozen clubs interested in him and I am sure United would agree to letting him leave for a small fee if someone came in for him.”

Elsewhere in the Championship Preston North End have also strengthened their midfield with a loan signing – former Sheff Utd man Michael Tonge has joined from Stoke City for a month. Sheff Wed defender Richard Wood has completed his protracted move to Coventry City on loan with a view to a permanent deal – his contract at Hillsborough expires this summer and he has so far refused to sign a new one.

Photo: Action Images

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