Simon Walton on Choosing QPR... Gregory on Walton's Injury and his QPR Impact

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August 7: QPR Official Site -WALTON UPDATE

Simon Walton has undergone surgery at the Princess Grace Hospital by Mr. Haddad (who is a foot and ankle specialist).
Simon has a transverse fracture of his left fibula and it was decided to fix the fracture with a plate and two pins to optimize the healing position of the fracture.
He will have a short time in plaster and then be placed in a boot so that the rehabilitation process can commence. QPR

Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Walton's week ended by cruel blow

THERE'S little room for doubt about just how eager Simon Walton was to be a QPR player.
The 19-year-old Yorkshireman signed for Rangers within days of being told he was surplus to requirements by Charlton boss Alan Pardew and went straight into the team for their pre-season friendlies at Wycombe and Harrow Borough.
Now, though, the teenager faces a long spell on the sidelines after X-rays confirmed that he suffered a broken left leg during his home debut against Fulham.

In an exclusive interview with the Times prior to Friday's game, Walton revealed that he had turned down offers from two other Championship clubs to move to Loftus Road.
He said: "When you're not wanted, you just want to go and, although there were a couple of other clubs involved, they weren't as big as QPR. This was the only place I wanted to come and I'm delighted to be here.
"I have great respect for Alan Pardew because he came out and told me straight - he could have kept me there sat on the bench or in the stands, but he realised I needed to be playing and I'm glad he was honest.
"John Gregory met with me and my parents and after that there was no doubt in my mind - he sold the club well. He was enthusiastic, good to talk to and I felt I could relate to him.
"I played with Mike Mancienne for the England youth team and other than him, there weren't any familiar faces when I arrived, but they're a good set of lads who made me feel welcome very quickly.
"They work hard for each other and I'm looking forward to helping them improve on last year, which I'm sure we can."
All being well, Walton will return to play a significant part in Rangers' season, having spent the whole of last year on loan to Ipswich and Cardiff after failing to break into the Charlton side.

For his part, Gregory had no hesitation in forking out £200,000 for the tough-tackling midfielder, who made his debut for Leeds at the age of 16 and has since racked up more than a half-century of appearances at this level.
The Rs boss said: "He's taken to this place like you'd never believe - he'd been here a week and he settled in so well. The boys love him to bits and it's like he's found his home again after quite a disastrous time at Charlton."
Walton's mishap echoes the sad tale of defender Richard Ord, who joined QPR in a £675,000 move from Sunderland in 1998, but never played in a competitive match.
Ord was injured in a pre-season friendly at Aylesbury and, at the age of 28, was forced to retire from the game without ever kicking a ball again - but Gregory is confident that Walton's tender years will protect him from a similar fate.

"We will obviously miss him big time over the next couple of months, but, if there's any positive to come out of this, it's that he's still a young boy with a long, long time ahead of him," added the QPR manager.
"We'll look after him, he will come back stronger and fitter than ever and I hope he's going to be here for many years to come.
"He's very ambitious and hungry, he wants to do so well for his new club and hopefully by the time he comes back, we might have a few points on the board and make his return a little bit easier. Kilburn Times