Dexter Blackstock finished the 2008/09 season as QPR's top scorer, but out on loan at Nottingham Forest in a controversial loan move.

DOB 20/05/1986
Height - 6ft 1ins
Weight - 12st 0lbs
Contract Expires - 2010

Dexter Blackstock was the QPR top scorer again in 2008/09 however he controversially ended the campaign on loan at Nottingham Forest. Blackstock had endured a disappointing 2007/08 campaign when he managed only six goals from more than 30 appearances. The overall standard of his performances was far below that he produced in 2006/07. Some said the death of Ray Jones had affected him, others blamed injuries, some pointed to the loss of Lee Cook who set up 12 of his 14 strikes the season before - whatever the reason, it meant Blackstock faced a massive 2008/09 season when he had to prove himself all over again.

Things started very well and Dexter quickly moved onto 12 goals by the beginning of January. However Blackstock is one of numerous players, most notably Lee Camp, whose face does not fit with Flavio Briatore. The offer of a contract extension was mysteriously and abruptly withdrawn in December and Blackstock's form suffered thereafter - his equaliser against Coventry at Loftus Road in january would be his last for Rangers that season and his performances after Christmas were, at best, dire. Nevertheless with Rangers struggling for goals and still missing Agyemang and Vine through injury fans met the decision to loan the top scorer out to Nottingham Forest for the last six games of the season with anger and astonishment.

Blackstock quickly won plaudits at the City Ground with two crucial goals as the Reds fought off relegation, meanwhile QPR failed to score in four of their last six matches. Supporters were told that Blackstock, with just a year left on his contract, was set for a £1.5m permanent move to Nottingham at the end of the spell however that failed to materialise at the end of the season. Paulo Sousa denied to the media and supporters that he knew anything about the move or sanctioned it. At the time of writing his future remains up in the air.

Although the club, in now time honoured fashion, announced the fee for Blackstock as 'undisclosed' when they bought him from Southampton in August 2006, rumour has it the R's paid as much as £500k for him. Even if it's not quite that much the transfer represented the largest outlay of money on a single player since the signing of Mike Sheron in 1998 and came at a time when the club are supposed to be trimming their outgoings, not splashing the cash. It's fair to say Gary Waddock rated the boy to be taking such a gamble.

It was a gamble that paid off as Dexter scored an impressive 14 goals, was our top scorer and the Player of the Year runner up as well as Young Player of the Year. His goal against Preston was voted our goal of the season. You will find it hard to find a more hard working player on the pitch and this was a fantastic signing for the R's. He has suffered with loss of form and injury in the first half of the 2007/08 season but returned to form with a goal against Leicester at Loftus Road at Christmas.

Blackstock began his career at Oxford United after progressing through their youth set up but was snapped up by Southampton for £275k before even playing a first team game. At the time the Saints were a Premiership side and understandably Blackstock found first team opportunities few and far between at St Marys but he impressed for their junior sides, scoring on his Under 19's debut against Chelsea. By the end of the season Blackstock was a regular in the England Under 19 side as well, scoring in a 3-0 win over Denmark in April 2004.

He made two Premiership appearances from the bench in his first season, against Charlton and Newcastle, and then made his full debut against Everton at the start of the 2004/05 season. He started a subsequent game against Birmingham City but was back on the bench for the League Cup game against Colchester a week later. With the Saints 1-0 down at the break and staring an embarrassment in the face Blackstock was introduced and he bagged a second half hat trick, his first goals for the senior side, to see them safely through.

He continued his footballing education with two successful loan spells in the Championship. He spent three months with Plymouth Argyle towards the end of the 2004/05 season and bagged four goals in ten starts. Last season he spent two months at Derby County and scored three goals in eight starts, including one against QPR at Pride Park. He also managed three goals in seven league starts for his parent club, including a brace at home to Brighton, in their first season back in the second tier but despite their relegation Southampton still couldn't find a place in their line up for Blackstock on a regular basis.

In the summer of 2006 George Burley added Gregor Rasiak and Bradley Wright Phillips to his arsenal and the writing was on the wall for Dexter. Despite his lack of first team action at Southampton he'd done enough in his cameos and loan spells to attract the interest of some big name Championship sides and after initial interest from QPR, Wolves and Crystal Palace muscled in and looked set to secure his services for their promotion push.

Southampton were reluctant to let him leave cheaply though and when QPR received £1.6m for Danny Shittu they regained the advantage and quickly snapped the youngster up.

Blackstock is surprisingly powerful and has an excellent turn of pace - he has even featured as a centre half in an emergency throughout his fledgling career. The Southampton website described him as; "a quick, athletic and powerful left footed striker with a big future ahead of him." 

While at Southampton Blackstock once found himself thrust into action as a goalkeeper in the FA Cup at Newcastle. For the final twenty minutes he turned in an eccentric display typical of his personality.

Photo: Action Images

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