QPR are striking gold with ex-Chelsea player - he’s making swift Loftus Road impact | OneFootball

QPR fans have had to wait to see Harvey Vale in action, but he's proving well worth it

QPR took a big risk in signing Harvey Vale last February, knowing full well that it wasn't going to be until this season that we saw him play at Loftus Road.

The 21-year-old arrived from Chelsea, despite his medical revealing a bone stress injury in his lower back. QPR went through with the deal nonetheless, though, a testament to their belief in Vale's talent and potential.

Vale had shown promise during his time at the Premier League side. He was involved in Enzo Maresca's side at times last season during the UEFA Conference League, and in his one major loan spell away from Chelsea, at then-League One side Bristol Rovers in 2023/24, he played 39 times in the league in a variety of different positions, ranging from left back to right midfield.

With the amount of attacking talent that came through the door at Loftus Road this summer, many were beginning to forget that Vale himself was set to make his debut for the Hoops this season, and he has impressed in limited minutes so far.

Harvey Vale is starting to hit his stride at QPR

With the likes of Kwame Poku and Rumarn Burrell joining the club before the beginning of the season, and then Richard Kone arriving later on alongside Koki Saito, who, like Karamoko Dembele, rejoined the club after a successful loan spell, Vale has had to bide his time in a highly saturated attack at Loftus Road.

Julien Stephan has had to evaluate his ever-growing squad whilst games are being played, and it seems like he hit the nail on the head with his selection for their derby-day win over Charlton Athletic.

It was his first win in his short time in the Loftus Road dugout, and one which he made six changes for after the embarrassment at Coventry City the week prior. One of those chances saw Vale in for his first league start at his new club, nearly seven months after his arrival.

The 21-year-old had struggled for Championship minutes, making one cameo appearance from the bench on opening day vs Preston North End, before failing to make it onto the pitch in the following two games.

He did grab an assist from left-back in QPR's EFL Cup defeat against Plymouth Argyle, but that wasn't enough for Vale to convince Julien Stephan to put him in from the off, not until their 3-1 win against Charlton.

Playing in an attacking midfield role, the position he regards as his best, Vale assisted Paul Smyth's opener inside eight minutes, as the Hoops left any bad feelings from the 7-1 loss at Coventry behind them.

Harvey Vale will be hoping his QPR form can carry forward past the international break

In a way, the ongoing international break hasn't come at a great time for Vale, who would have been eager to continue the performance he showed in his first league start for QPR as soon as possible.

However, his assist and overall play in the Charlton game should put him in good standing for more starts over the course of the month, and if he performs as he did in the derby, then it'll be difficult to drop him.

His versatility may help there, as Julien Stephan will be able to utilise him in a variety of different roles and positions, but for the time being, it's hard to see anyone usurping the former Chelsea man from the central attacking midfield position in the near future.

As mentioned before, competition for attacking places in the QPR side is as high as it possibly can be, but Vale should be backing himself to stake his claim as one of the first names on the teamsheet if he can continue this form.

QPR fans have had to wait to see him in action, not only due to injury last season, but through selection this year, but it's looking like it'll be well worth the wait once he gets a proper run in the side.