Ian Dowie Speaks About QPR's Overseas Signings and Offers an Injury Update

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Dave McIntyre/Ealing Gazette - Overseas signings will have impact says Dowie
Iain Dowie is convinced QPR’s three overseas signings will overcome the language barrier and make an impact at Loftus Road.
Winger Matteo Alberti scored in Saturday’s 3-1 win at Stevenage in a pre-season friendly and his fellow Italian Samuel Di Carmine - a striker on a season-loan from Fiorentina - headed against the post.
Argentine midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma rattled the bar with a free-kick in the second half and is a player Rangers have particularly high hopes for.
None of the new arrivals speak English, but Dowie is more than pleased with how quickly they have settled.
And Ledesma, signed on loan from Genoa with the option of a permanent move next summer, has been helped by Rangers’ Colombian-born forward Angelo Balanta since moving to England.
"They’re young players and we shouldn’t expect too much from them, but they’ve got quality," said Dowie.
"They’ve started having English lessons and we’ll get there with them. We’ll cope with all that, and Ledesma has Angelo, who speaks Spanish and can help him.
"Matty Alberti got his goal on Saturday, which is important, plus you could see what Ledesma has and Samuel Di Carmine worked his socks off in the first half.
"He (Di Carmine) is a great threat in behind because he’s got pace and he’s a box player – he comes alive in the box.
"I’m watching him and I see his movement across the line and across people. He’s got a nice touch, was unlucky not to score when he hit the post and is also surprisingly good in the air.
"He’s a young boy who’ll take time to settle. He needs to learn the language and is working hard at that.
"All three of those lads will need to time to settle but we’re delighted with them. We think they’ll be good for the future and that’s very important."
Defender Peter Ramage also made his R’s debut at Stevenage, where Hogan Ephraim’s first-half goal put Rangers in front.
Youngster Romone Rose fired in the second goal just after the break and Alberti made it three before Lyseden Christie netted for the home side.
"I was very pleased with the game and we had a fantastic following of fans," said Dowie.
"In certain aspects we weren’t really on the ball but we’ll work on that and there was a lot to be pleased with.
"The lads have had one of their hardest weeks in pre-season and I was expecting them to maybe show a bit more leggyness but they’ve recovered well, which is good.
"They’ve been doing three sessions a day so the Stevenage game was always going to be a big test and I’m pleased they came through it.
"We got the ball down and passed it at times and there were some pleasing moves and chances on goal.
"We wanted to be a bit more clinical and keep a clean sheet but those are little things we will polish up on.
"All round, they got a good run out and I was pleased with the response on the back of a very hard week of pre-season training."
Mikele Leigertwood missed the game with a slight Achilles problem, while goalkeeper Radek Cerny was absent with a hamstring strain and is also expected to sit out Wednesday night’s friendly at Northampton.
Dowie explained: "Mikele’s is not too much of a problem but discretion is the better part of valour and it’s just important it doesn’t flare up. It’s a shame because he’s been looking in great shape.
"Radek has a bit of a tight hamstring which is probably going to keep him out for another week or so, but it’s nothing major." Ealing Gazette