When it was announced that Kieron Dyer would be handed a new contract at QPR in May, I said to a fan of the club that they would be taking on Owen Hargreaves next.
Almost two months later that off-the-cuff comment looks to be coming true, with news over the weekend that Hargreaves is actually in training with the club.
What is in it for QPR? Could they finally be the club to get Hargreaves back to his best?
The Loftus Road club have not signed any agreement yet, and there is surely no harm in inviting him in and taking a look at him for themselves. If they like what they see, then don't be surprised if they actually take him on on a pay-as-you-play deal.
Hargreaves is clearly a player in no mood to give up. Only 31, he is reluctant to take the route of Ledley King who retired earlier this month at the same age.
The midfielder was surprisingly taken on by Manchester City last season, and got off to a good start when he rocketed in a stunner on his debut against Wolves in the Carling Cup. That would be the only highlight of his time at the Etihad.
He made just one substitute appearance in the Premier League, and was unfit to fill in for Yaya Toure when he departed for the African Nations Cup, a period Roberto Mancini had earmarked for him to get some game time.
It was no surprise when he was released at the end of the season, and it followed three miserable seasons at Manchester United which saw him make just four appearances, after a promising debut season at Old Trafford.
The problem QPR face in getting him back to his best, is that his 'best' was around six years ago, when he turned in a man-of-the-match performance for England against Portugal in the World Cup in 2006.
No disrespect to QPR, but getting into the Manchester City side is a more difficult task than he will face at Loftus Road, but it will all come down to his fitness. It may be his last throw of the dice, and few neutrals would begrudge such a talented player a final chance.
The other player who surely must be on his last chance is Kieron Dyer. His signing at QPR was a bit of a surprise one last summer, but there were no shocks when the injury-prone player went down in his very first game of the season.
Dyer made 34 appearances for West Ham in four seasons, and at 33, it appears as though the player will never fulfil his potential.
Dyer's presence should actually give QPR fans even more reservations over bringing Hargreaves on board. With the Premier League's 25-man squad rule, having both would be a big risk.
Their injury records would suggest that QPR would find themselves down to just 23 eligible first-teamers very soon, and that is before the conundrum over Joey Barton and his 12 match ban comes into play.
Rangers already have one of the league's largest squads, with nine strikers presently on their books, and whether they can afford to bring Hargreaves in is a question Mark Hughes will have to fully assess. Only by taking a look at him close hand can he assess just how much of a gamble it is. Time will tell whether any move will prove a lucky one or an unnecessary own goal.
Can QPR afford to have Hargreaves and Dyer in the same squad?
image: © cradlehall
Dan Coombs
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Dan Coombs is a writer who is keen to embrace the internet revolution. He first started writing for us in June 2011 and commenced his new role as Sports Editor in February 2012.
As a trained journalist he has met famous faces from Mr T to Boris Johnson. He once featured in an England World Cup music video too, but it did not make the charts.
He grew up wanting to be a Formula 1 driver, but it looks like this dream has passed him by. Instead, he hopes you enjoy reading his writing on our site, as we seek to debate the day's sporting hot topics.
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