FINNISH International Niko Hamalainen initially joined QPR midway through the 2015/16 campaign and quickly became a regular starter for the club’s Under-23s that season.

Like many of our U23s squad, the full-back has enjoyed a series of loan spells away from W12, with stints at Dagenham and Redbridge, Los Angeles FC and most recently Kilmarnock giving the 24-year-old some senior football experience.

The 2016/17 campaign was a breakthrough one for Niko as he made his QPR debut against Sunderland in the EFL Cup and an appearance in our memorable victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage.

However, it wasn’t until the 2020/21 campaign that the Finnish international really kickstarted his senior QPR career, with 23 Rangers appearances – matched with a first call-up to the Finland national side – capping off an impressive season for the full-back.

Hamalainen was then one of only two Rangers players to be called up for the European Championships in the summer of 2021, and despite not featuring at the tournament he will certainly have learned a lot from it.