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Taarabt set for season long loan deal - evening news

Adel Taarabt is set to return to Loftus Road for the whole of the 2009/10 season on a loan deal from Tottenham Hotspur.

Taarabt was a big hit at Rangers last season when he arrived on loan from Tottenham in March and made seven appearances for the R’s, scoring once against Bristol City. His supreme first touch and dazzling ball skills were a cut above anything else in the Championship and today’s news that he is set to return for the whole of the new campaign is a significant coup for Rangers. The deal is expected to be completed before the weekend.

The 20 year old French Moroccan is said to be one of the most skilful players at White Hart Lane but suffers through the lack of a defined position – with QPR suffering a dearth of attacking talent in the wake of Dexter Blackstock’s departure it is likely that he will get to try his hand at being an out and out striker this season.

Rangers have beaten off competition from Malaga and Reading to secure the deal and manager Jim Magilton expressed his delight to the club’s official website: “I have seen Adel plenty of times and I know he is a player of undoubted ability. He is a match winner on his day and will bring added competition to the squad. The fact we have been able to agree a deal to bring in someone of Adel’s quality shows which direction this club is heading in. If you can encourage a squad player from the Premier League to take the drop down to the Championship then it shows what your intentions are.”

Going through the exit door today, after a protracted saga, is Dexter Blackstock who has completed his move to Nottingham Forest. Blackstock told the Forest official website: “I'm very happy to be back. It's nice to see the lads, the manager and the staff again and I can't wait to get back in the swing of things.I enjoyed everything about my time with Forest last season. We were in the relegation zone and ended up surviving quite comfortably in the end and didn't lose in my time at the club. I was really happy with the way things went. I've had a taste of what this club is all about and now I want more. David [McGoldrick] is a good friend. I came up through the youth system with him, as well as Arron Davies. If we play up front together, we'll know each other's games which can only bode well for the future.”

The players Blackstock left behind in W12 beat Conference side Forest Green 2-0 last night with goals from Damion Stewart and Alessandro Pellicori. Jim Magilton was impressed with his team’s efforts and told the club’s official website: “At times we passed the ball about very well but I have to say I thought Forest Green came out of this match with a lot of credit. They played the game with a real tempo, which was good for us and good for the fixture. I'm pleased to see the likes of Martin Rowlands and Damion Stewart come through OK. It was a typical display by Martin, and he is that sort of player, I believe he is a very clever player and I'm keen to get him out on the park as much as possible. Hopefully he will feel no reaction to this run-out and this is the start of a productive season for him.

"Tonight I had another look at some of the youngsters we have here and I believe there's some promise there, which is great. Is the team progressing how I would like? No. Well, yes and no. To be honest, I always want better. But we're making strides and now our focus is on Oxford this Friday.”

Elsewhere today Gareth Ainsworth has been speaking about his decision to step away from coaching and return to a purely playing role – even if that means he may become surplus to requirements at Loftus Road. Ainsworth told the Kilburn Times: “It's early days and the idea of being involved in some capacity on the pitch is fantastic but if that doesn't happen maybe it will be elsewhere and I'll make that decision when it comes. I want to do my best and see if I can get in the QPR squad. The lads and the fans all just treat me as Gaz and they know what they're going to get - whether I'm player, manager or kit man, I'll be giving 110 per cent and then we'll see what happens.

“I might not have the skills of Hogan Ephraim, Rowan Vine or Akos Buzsaky, but I graft and put tackles in or get crosses over and I've got a few more years left of doing that. Every manager I've spoken to said 'play as long as you can, do not hang those boots up until you cannot go any further' and that's what I'm going to do. I look at people like Paul Furlong, and Graham Alexander at Burnley, and feel I can do that. Age is a preconception for a lot of people - I think you need to watch someone and make your judgment on that.

“Last year was a very confusing situation for everybody and going into management wasn't my ideal choice. In hindsight, maybe it was a bit early for me. I've got plenty more running and crossing balls to do until people tell me I can't do it any more.”

The club today released the squad numbers for the forthcoming season with Ainsworth at number 26. There were few other changes though – Peter Ramage has moved to two, Heider Helguson to nine, Radek Cerny has chosen to remain number 24 despite the number one shirt being vacated by Lee Camp.

Elsewhere in the Championship today Sheff Utd have lost two of their most promising young players – Kyle Naughton and Kyle Walker who finished last season as the Blades’ first choice full backs have both moved to Spurs in a transfer that could be worth as much as £10m. I’m sure the boys are being handsomely paid but once again with Spurs I point to our own Adel Taarabt, Chris Gunter and John Bostock as examples of great young players who should really be playing first team football in our league who simply get swallowed up into the massive squad at White Hart Lane. Spurs already have six recognised full backs in their senior squad.

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