Martin Rowlands has captained QPR into a new era under Flavio Briatore but suffered a set back after 18 months of injury free football when he ruptured knee ligaments at Derby in January 2009.

DOB 08/02/1979
Height - 5ft 9ins
Weight - 10st 10lbs
Contract - 2010

Rowly is a tough tackling ball playing midfielder who has the pace and skill to cut it on either wing as well as the toughness and desire to play in the centre of the park.

Rowlands has sadly suffered with numerous injuries during his career. He signed for QPR with a broken leg, endured 18 months of repetitive calf and hamstring strains under Gary Waddock and John Gregory and then just as his problems seemed to be a thing of the past he tore knee ligaments in the early stage of a 2-0 win at Derby in January 2009. That ruled him out for the remainder of the season although it was fair to say that he had not recaptured his form of 2007/08 under either Iain Dowie or Paulo Sousa.

In 2007/08, after being moved into the centre of midfield by Luigi De Canio, he embarked on a series of performances that were among his best for the club, including a two goal and man of the match display in a win at Watford. At the end of easily his best season for the club so far he was named as the club's Player of the Season by both supporters and players and finished the campaign with a call up the Republic of Ireland squad for the first time in in four years. To cap it all, he's cool enough to take the penalties as well.

He's also prone to the odd wonder goal and won the club's Goal of the Season award for a second time in 2008/09 with a 30 yard piledriver against Wolves in a live Sky Sports game. He took the award previously in 05/06 for his strike at Crewe despite featuring so sporadically throughout that campaign.

Ian Holloway tried on numerous occasions to steal Rowlands from local rivals Brentford, first with a permanent deal, then a loan, and ultimately a free transfer after Rowly had broken his leg. The Brentford fans warned us of Rowlands' temper, bad behaviour off the pitch, dodgy family life etc. All of this has turned out to be rubbish. It's little wonder that Holloway has made Rowlands his top transfer target since joining Leicester City.

The right footed midfielder swept the board at the Player of the Year awards in his first season, scoring 12 goals as Rangers won promotion to the Championship. There were some memorable strikes too, magnificent individual goals against Wrexham and Brighton, poachers' efforts in the area against Stockport and Swindon (twice) and a classy brace against Sheffield United in the League Cup. By the end of the season the players were calling the team Queens Park Rowlands.

He started the campaign at a higher level in much the same way he finished the last, running fifty yards and smashing the ball into the top corner away to Sunderland in a 2-2 draw. However his form tailed away and by Christmas he wasn't even guaranteed a place in the team. As the team found its feet in the Spring, so too did Rowlands and a trade mark jinking run and finish to win the game at Rotherham confirmed that he was back.

Despite another season interupted by niggling injuries, Rowly weighed in with an impressive 10 goals in 29 appearances.

Earlier in his career he was released by Wycombe Wanderers to Farnborough Town from where Brentford picked him up for a nominal transfer fee.

Photo: Action Images

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