Queens Park Rangers manager Gareth Ainsworth may have plenty on his mind as his team faces a fight for their place in the Championship as they return from the international break, but that did not prevent him from making a classy gesture to Bristol City talent Anis Mehmeti and tipping him to reach the Premier League.
Mehmeti joined the Robins in January, but it was at Wycombe Wanderers under the management of Ainsworth where he made his name, scoring 19 goals in 97 appearances for the Chairboys after being plucked out of non-league from Essex Senior League side Woodford Town.
Initially signing as a member of the club's B-team setup, the 22-year-old would quickly establish himself as a crucial player in Ainsworth's first team at Adams Park in 2020, and nine goals in 27 League One games from the winger in the first half of this season earned him a move to Ashton Gate.
Since joining Nigel Pearson's squad, Mehmeti has made nine appearances with a single assist, showing flashes of his potential as he settles in BS3.
London-born Mehmeti's family is Albanian and after representing the nation's under-19s and under-21s teams, he received his first call-up to the senior squad this month. Mehmeti made his debut as a substitute in a narrow 1-0 defeat for Albania – managed by former Arsenal and Barcelona left-back Sylvinho – away in Poland on Monday to kick off their qualifying campaign for Euro 2024.
Like Mehmeti, Ainsworth has recently left Wycombe, being appointed QPR boss in February after a dismal run of form saw Neil Critchley sacked. Rangers' form has not improved significantly, losing four of their past five Championship games to leave them six points clear of the relegation zone with eight games remaining.
But the 49-year-old remains proud of Mehmeti, perhaps one of his greatest success stories from more than a decade in charge of Wycombe, and he believes a bright future awaits the attacking midfielder.
"I called him last week to congratulate him on his call-up," Ainsworth said at his pre-match press conference as QPR prepare to face rock-bottom Wigan Athletic on Saturday. "I'm really proud of a boy who was playing non-league football three years ago.
"He can get to the Premier League, without a doubt."
Ainsworth and Mehmeti will meet again on the final day of the season when the Robins travel to Loftus Road.
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