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Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Dowie on Nardiello, Rowlands, Bolder, More Signings, Squad Size & Initial Lack of Pre-Season Games

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Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times Door stays open for Dan
FORGOTTEN man Danny Nardiello could make a surprise return to QPR colours this weekend after his proposed move to Blackpool fell through.
Nardiello, who featured just eight times for Rangers before being loaned back to former club Barnsley last season, was offered as a makeweight in the Rs' protracted attempt to sign Blackpool defender Kaspars Gorkss.
The Seasiders opted to loan Watford striker Steve Kabba instead - but QPR boss Iain Dowie is refusing to close the door on Nardiello's career at Loftus Road and hinted he may be involved in Saturday's pre-season friendly at Stevenage Borough.
"Nards has worked hard and, with Rowan Vine being out for a while, that's maybe opened up an avenue," Dowie told the Times.
"I've always felt he had goals in him - he didn't play a lot last year for QPR and hasn't yet scored for the club, but his record tells you he always does score.
"My view is there's competition for places and Nards, like all of them, has a job to get in the starting 11. Everyone's at the same level and that includes the other players who went out on loan last year.
"Adam Bolder's come back in great shape, for example. At first it's about making sure everyone gets some football and we'll start to hone it as we go on to Northampton, then Falkirk and Kilmarnock.
"When I came in May and found we'd only got one pre-season game organised that was a real headache, so I think we've done well to get a gradual progression of good quality opposition."
Vine, recovering from a broken leg, and Buzsaky (ankle) will miss the whole of Rangers' pre-season programme, while centre-back Fitz Hall and skipper Martin Rowlands are also unlikely to feature at Broadhall Way (kick-off 3pm).
But most of the club's other summer signings to date - Radek Cerny, Peter Ramage, Matteo Alberti, Samuel Di Carmine and Emmanuel Jorge Ledesma - should be involved.
As to whether more new faces will be joining them, Dowie added: "I wouldn't think there'd be more than two or three, maximum. It depends on them having the right character.
"The squad is probably a little big round the edges, so there are one or two players who won't get enough football and therefore they'll want to go out and play. Maybe one or two young lads will go out on loan."
Goalkeeper Jake Cole falls into that category and Dowie last week agreed to let him join Blue Square Premier side Oxford United on a three-month loan deal.
The 22-year-old - who publicly announced his desire to go out on loan at the end of last season - made his debut for the Us' in Saturday's friendly at Brackley.
Cole kept a clean sheet in a goal-less first half before being replaced for the second period, which Oxford lost 2-1. Kilburn Times


Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Dowie dismisses rumour of Rowly exit
QPR boss Iain Dowie has reiterated that Martin Rowlands is not for sale after reports that the Rangers captain was a target for Hull City.
Dowie confirmed that he had not been in contact with Tigers manager Phil Brown, and would turn down any future approach for Rowlands anyway.
"Martin shares the same ambitions for the club I do, he loves the place and he's not the slightest bit interested in moving," Dowie told the Times.
"He'd be one of the last players we'd want to sell. We're not in the process of selling our best players, that's not going to happen.
"It's flattering if there are bids for our players, that maybe shows how far the club's come and how far Martin's come."
Rowlands, who was originally handed the skipper's armband by former manager Luigi de Canio last season, will captain the team again during the new campaign.
But Dowie needs a replacement for QPR's first three games as Rowlands will be serving a three-match ban due to his red card against West Brom in May. Kilburn Times

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