Queens Park Rangers narrowly avoided relegation to League One at the end of the 2016/17 campaign under first Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, and then Ian Holloway.

The latter saved the Hoops’ season, and he was given a chance to lead the London side forward the following season.

Holloway was in charge for the whole season as they ultimately finish6d 16th in the second tier.

But before another mediocre season that would end in the manager leaving the club, at the start of it, optimism was high among supporters.

Transfer activity was also high at Loftus Road with ins and outs aplenty ahead of the start of the 2017/18 Championship campaign.

Four games into the new season, with just a couple of days left in the transfer window, QPR made a late addition to their side.

Paul Smyth arrived in west London on the back of an impressive spell in the Irish League with Linfield.

The Northern Ireland U21 international was signed initially for the development squad and handed a two-year deal.

There was a pretty warm welcome for the then 19-year-old upon his arrival at Loftus Road.

Although the capture was thought to be one for the future, Smyth made a handful of QPR appearances in the Championship.

The forward scored on his Hoops debut against Cardiff in the 2-1 in on January 1, 2018.

His second goal game in April, again in a win, and again at home, in a 4-2 win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Smyth was able to pick up his first Northern Ireland cap, too on the way to making 15 appearances for the club during the second half of the season.

Once Holloway left, Steve McClaren came in, and Smyth played five times this season for the Hoops before moving on loan to Accrington Stanley.

The young forward has impressed during his time at the League One club and having signed a new deal at the start of 2019; there is a lot expected of the striker who had a decent spell in the side before his loan to the third tier.

The fan reaction was positive, and Smyth’s new deal has given the QPR fans new hope that their initial thoughts to his signing will become a reality when he returns next season to stake his claim for a place in McClaren’s first team.