CONOR Masterson joined QPR on a two- year deal, signing as a free agent following the expiry of his contract at Liverpool.

Masterson’s football career began in his native Ireland. Brought up in Dublin, he played for local side Lucan United before joining Liverpool on his 16th birthday.

The Merseysiders were alerted to his potential when he starred at the Kennedy Cup, the most famous trophy in Irish Schoolboy football.

A promising, ball-playing centre-back, he captained Liverpool’s Under-18s before being promoted to their Under-23 set-up while still only 18 years old.

Towards the end of the 2017/18 campaign, Masterson’s continued development was recognised when he was named on the bench in April 2018 for Liverpool’s first-team fixtures against Manchester City in the Champions League and their Premier League derby with Everton.

A knee injury curtailed his progress last season, however, and now he is relishing the chance to get his career and development back on track with QPR.

Internationally, Masterson has represented the Republic of Ireland at Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 level. He was named as the FAI's International Player of the Year in 2015.