Massimo Luongo’s World Cup performances can dictate QPR’s season

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The Queens Park Rangers star is set to feature for Australia against France on Saturday.

It is not often that Queens Park Rangers can boast of having a player who is about to represent their country at the World Cup but this year the west Londoners’ can call upon their midfield maestro.

Winning the supporters’ Player of the Year award back in April, Massimo Luongo has enjoyed a stellar season at Loftus Road and QPR fans will be keen to see the 25-year-old strut his stuff on the world stage.

The Australian star is set for one of the biggest games of his career when he lines up against France on Saturday. Luongo has already confessed he is looking forward to facing Paul Pogba and R’s fans will be watching with keen interest.

The former Tottenham Hotspur youth player is vitally important to both club and country and new QPR boss Steve McClaren will know a lot is riding on Luongo’s performances in Russia.

Granted, the Socceroos are not expected to move mountains but what is apparent is that, if Luongo can transfer his club form to the international scene, he will see his stock rise quickly.

From McClaren’s perspective this could mean one of two things. Teams will jostle for his signature and possibly pay an inflated fee and Luongo will depart with the fans’ blessing.

This would allow the former England and Newcastle head coach to reinvest the funds and strengthen the squad in a number of key areas.

It sounds tempting, but to lose a player of Luongo’s influence can have a ripple effect among the squad and young players.

The other option is to rebuff any bid and face the risk of having an unhappy player among the ranks. With that said, Luongo has hinted he is happy in W12 so it is not always strictly true.

No matter what happens in Russia, QPR will know it is fundamental that they do everything to keep hold of Luongo for the new campaign.

The ex-Swindon man has proved so influential and positive in the middle of the Park for the R’s and so much could hinge on where QPR end up in the Championship next season.