Ramsey: Austin a QPR player for now and has duty to keep us up
QUEENS Park Rangers manager Chris Ramsey insists lingering uncertainty over the future of top scorer Charlie Austin will not sabotage their attempts to pull off an unlikely escape from relegation.
Austin has been tipped to leave Loftus Road in the summer, regardless of whether QPR dodge the drop in their final four games, having impressed with a haul of 17 goals in his maiden Premier League campaign.
Ramsey, whose side lie second from bottom and four points from safety as they prepare to visit Liverpool tomorrow, expects the 25-year-old to disregard the prospect of a transfer and focus on a crucial run-in.
“Charlie’s been fine,” he said. “We haven’t really spoken about him leaving the club and I’d hate to have that speculation hanging around with the task we’ve got ahead. As far as we’re concerned Charlie is a QPR player at the moment and he knows he has a duty to try and keep us in the division.”
Austin could bear a greater burden at Anfield amid doubts over the fitness of strike partner Bobby Zamora, who has helped Rangers pick up five points from four games but is nursing a persistent injury.
“Bobby has a bad hip but he’s got a bad few things,” Ramsey added. “He’s taken a lot of bumps and bruises because he’s the one who is always in the battle. You wouldn’t know that by the grit and determination he’s showed.”