Nasser El Khayati can’t put his finger on just what Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink brings to his game - but whatever it is the newest QPR recruit wants a bit more.
The £350,000 deadline day signing from Burton made his mark against Ipswich eight minutes after coming on as a second-half sub when he shot, crossed, take your pick, for Matt Phillips to head the winner at the back post.
El Khayati was playing in Dutch amateur football when the Rs manager came to his rescue and took him to Burton just a year ago.
The 27-year-old, described as something between as a striker and number 10, JFH called him a ‘nine-and-a-half’, was a mainstay in Albion’s promotion push and had scored eight goals this season before he followed his mentor to Loftus Road.
Now El Khayati has seen enough of Hasselbaink to insist Rangers are headed back to the Premier League, if not this season, then next.
He said: “I think he needs time, but he will definitely take them back to the Premiership. He was a legend at Chelsea; nobody has to tell you he did a very good job at Burton, but now it’s new chapter for him at a massive club like QPR.”
“For me, it’s just a feeling; and I don’t know what is. I just feel I can progress under him.”
The forward revealed there were other clubs sniffing around, but being at Rangers and back under the JFH fold was a no brainer.
“I am very happy to be here,” he added.
