Hoop Dreams - QPR FC

QPR winger Wayne Routledge today signed for Championship leaders Newcastle United for an undisclosed fee after being linked with the Geordies' rivals Middlesbrough in recent weeks.

Routledge becomes the second player to leave the club in two days after Patrick Agyemang's loan move to Bristol City yesterday and has signed a three-and-a-half year deal with the Magpies.

He joined QPR in the January 2009 transfer window and went on to make 19 appearances by the end of the 08/09 season.

His form at the start of this season was blistering, with four goals in the Carling Cup and strikes against Peterborough United and Preston.

Paired as a strike partner with Jay Simpson on occasions under Jim Magilton, Routledge's pace remained a useful attacking outlet for the club and he was their leading provider of goals, with eight assists so far, though his form had suffered along with QPR's in general in the last two months.

Routledge started his career at Crystal Palace for whom he made 110 appearances before less than successful transfers to Spurs and Aston Villa. He has also played on loan at Portsmouth, Fulham and Cardiff City and has been capped for England at U21 level.

His transfer could be taken as an indication of a more frugal outlook on the part of Flavio Briatore and his fellow Board members. Though they have rarely laid out a great deal in terms of transfer fees, barring the signing of Alejandro Faurlin, they have frequently contributed to higher wages than have recently been seen at Loftus Road.

Routledge would surely have been amongst the top earners at the club, so his sale could be taken as a desire of the club to balance their books. Football-wise, the logic of the sale will be questioned though especially if manager Mick Harford is unable to make further reinforcements to his squad.