Ollie Looks To Santos

Last updated : 04 November 2004 By Mark O' Haire

First Les Ferdinand, second Rob Hulse, third Luke Beckett…three strikers Ian Holloway is eager to get his hands on, but in the meantime Ollie is serious about converting defender Georges Santos into a make-shift forward.

The idea is designed to take the workload of 36-year old Paul Furlong whom Ollie concedes cannot last the rigours of 46 games in the Championship.

Santos was thrown into the firing line on Tuesday evening to help claw back the goal that earnt the R’s a point against Millwall.

Whilst most of us may have felt it was a simple tactic employed by the gaffer to get back into the game, Ollie is deadly serious about converting the Frenchman for the time being.

Ollie said:

"Georges showed what he can do in the box against Burnley and Wolves. He may be 34 but he's quick, and although he's improved at the back, sometimes his positional play there is not what we would like it to be."

After a shaky start to his Rangers career and many doubters amongst the fans, Santos seems to have proved most wrong and has been seen by many as a mini-revelation in the side.

The former Ipswich hardman is also accustomed to playing in the centre-of midfield and so the move to front may come about easier for him than most think.

Meanwhile, Ollie is standing by former Bristol City winger Aaron Brown as the player battles back from a broken ankle.

Rumours were rife in the summer about the Robin joining the R’s after he rejected a new contract at Ashton Gate.

The left-sided winger then badly injured himself in pre-season training leaving him without a club and having to rehabilitate at Lilleshall.

Ollie invited the player to train with the club in his bid to regain full fitness and has now been training at the Acton ground for nearly six weeks.

But Ollie insists he still has a while before he’ll be back to full health.

"Aaron's short of strength and is still limping a bit, but his running is better. He won't be able to play for around five to six weeks, but when he does he gives us plenty of options down the left. He's tall and talented and still very much part of our plans."

Brown has been paid nothing by the R’s as he hopes to earn himself a permanent deal, only his petrol money that sees him travel from the West Country daily in order to train with the Rangers squad.

QPR MAD will keep you updated with news about Aaron Brown’s recovery and possible signing.