Sebastian Polter was so determined to join QPR - he turned down VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga and FC Nürnberg and RB Leipzig in Germany’s second division.
After a stuttering start, the 24-year-old has hit stride to score three in the last four games, including a coup de grace in the 3-0 win at Rotherham last weekend.
Polter may have to fight for his place with new £2.5m Conor Washington as Hoops take on Wolves tomorrow lunchtime, but he insists the Championship suits his style.
Captain Nedum Onuoha is toughening him up with tackles in training, and the player has shunned the bright lights of the West End to live in leafy Gerrards Cross.
It’s also where he gets his distinctive locks sorted by a local hairdresser, and makes for a straight 25-minute run down the M40 to Rs training ground at Harlington.
He said: “I once made the mistake of going into the centre of London by car - it took two hours.
“And when you have kids, you need somewhere with a bit of space.”
He used to have the nickname ‘Polti’ in Germany at Union Berlin and Mainz from where he was signed for a reported £1 million, but has come to accept it’s ‘Seb’ in west London.
It might be a while though before The Loft get into the same chant as Union fans.
When teams were announced before a game, as each player’s name was read out fans would shout ‘Fussball Gott!’ (football god).
Polter reckons Hoops fans are just as good - if not better.
He added: “There’s a lot of positive atmosphere at Loftus Road.”
