QPR deadline day signing Sam Field has revealed that "20 minutes talking" with Charlie Austin changed his "whole outlook".
The West Bromwich Albion midfielder joined the R's on loan and was the club's final addition of the winter window, following in the footsteps of Baggies teammate Austin.
Speaking to the club website, Field has revealed the impact that a conversation with the 31-year-old striker has had on him.
He said: "I once spent 20 minutes talking with Chaz about football and it changed my whole outlook. He probably doesn’t even realise that. It meant a lot to me and having him here can only help me."
The 22-year-old spent last season on loan with Charlton Athletic but has been with Albion for the first half of the 2020/21 campaign.
Opportunities there have been hard to come by for Field, who has featured just five times this term, and he is hoping the move to west London can be a permanent one.
He explained: "When the opportunity came up I snatched at it. I’m looking forward to a new beginning. Hopefully it can become permanent because I need a fresh start.
“You can become part of the furniture if you’re not careful. That’s no disrespect to West Brom because I have enjoyed my time with them and loved every minute, but for my own personal gain I feel I needed to go away and play games."
A product of the Baggies academy, the energetic midfielder has made 45 appearances for the Hawthorns club since making his debut in the 2015/16 campaign.
Field's first opportunity to impress could come against Blackburn Rovers at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on Saturday.
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The Verdict
Having made a fast start to his second spell at the club, Austin is already a popular figure among R's supporters but these comments are only likely to make him more loved.
It seems a chat he had with Field changed the player's outlook completely and may well have led to him joining the club in the winter window.
He was really impressive during his time at Charlton, though it was hampered by injury, and will add some more quality to Mark Warburton's midfield alongside Fulham loanee Stefan Johansen.