Despite reported interest in Martin and Hugill, Matt Smith can be QPR’s top striker next season

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Matt Smith scored 11 goals in the Championship last season and will be keen to impress at Queens Park Rangers in the upcoming campaign.

Queens Park Rangers striker Matt Smith enjoyed his best season as a professional last season when he was directly involved in 20 goals.

The 29-year-old hit man often popped up with vital goals to keep QPR comfortably perched in mid-table, but it appears that new manager Steve McClaren is keen to add more firepower for the new season.

Chris Martin (West London Sport) and Jordan Hugill (the Sun on Sunday – 01/07/2018 page 59) have recently been linked with moves to west London but, if any potential deals do materialise, many Rangers fans will likely assume Smith’s playing time will be rather limited.

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However, what could be more likely is the departures of Conor Washington and possibly Idrissa Sylla to make way for any new attackers and forwards. The pair have not offered much consistency in their time at QPR, so it would be no surprise to see at least one of the strikers move on.

From Smith’s perspective, he will have the perfect opportunity to impress McClaren and he certainly offers a different dimension to his game. Standing at 6’6″, the former Fulham striker is perhaps one of the few remaining ‘old school’ centre forwards.

Powerful, tenacious and brilliant in the air, Smith is not your typical modern day forward. Even with the possible introduction of Hugill and Martin, McClaren would be foolish to cast Smith to one side as QPR have the advantage of playing to Smith’s strengths.

Granted, Martin is a physical presence but there is hardly anyone who could successfully out jump or out muscle Smith. Long ball football is not what the Loftus Road faithful typically want to see but it is proving very effective.

From a fan’s perspective, more firepower is required, but shaping the attacking line around Smith would go a long way in proving QPR can have a successful campaign.