Paul Smyth’s and Niko Hamalainen’s international performances could accelerate route to QPR first-team

Follow us on Google Discover

Queens Park Rangers duo Smyth and Hamalainen are expected to be representing Northern Ireland U21s and Finland U21s on Tuesday.

Queens Park Rangers duo Paul Smyth and Niko Hamalainen will be looking to enhance their first-team chances further, as the 2019 UEFA European Championship qualifiers continue on Tuesday.

The pair will be lining up for Northern Ireland U21s and Finland U21s respectively, with both players making steady but positive strides at international level.

Smyth will be really testing himself against Spain’s U21s and the forward will be looking to build on his match-winning assist last time out.

Left-back Hamalainen has earned positive reviews from his performances and will look to continue to do so against Poland’s next generation.

Domestically, Smyth has featured in the Championship under both Ian Holloway and current QPR boss Steve McClaren and certainly offers plenty of potential.

Despite not playing as much first-team football, Hamalainen is widely tipped to make a positive impact over the course of the next year or so and it will be intriguing to see how the duo get on.

McClaren will want to see healthy competition for places in his starting XI and, if Smyth and Hamalainen can continue to showcase their qualities during international matches, it will be harder to ignore them come match day.

Smyth signed for QPR from Linfield in 2017, scoring on his debut against Cardiff City last season. Hamalainen has only made a handful of appearances in the first-team, but he could challenge Jake Bidwell for the left-back spot if he continues to impress.