QPR left-back Niko Hamalainen has explained what he was told about Scottish football prior to his Kilmarnock loan move.
The 22-year-old has joined the Rugby Park side on a season-long loan deal. He will likely provide cover for Killie’s undisputed first choice left-back Greg Taylor.
A Killie man now. (Photo by Devin Manky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Hamalainen has told Killie TV about what his current QPR teammate Lee Wallace, as well as Rangers battler Glen Kamara, told him about Scottish football.
He said: “I don’t know much about it (Scottish football). I spoke to Lee Wallace at QPR and I also know Glen Kamara at Rangers, and he told me that it’s quite an aggressive league, but he said I should be able to do a good job.”
Hamalainen will need to be patient at Kilmarnock
Having played in Scotland for a few seasons now, Kamara is well versed in what Scottish football offers. Hamalainen will need to get used to the hustle and bustle of the game up here quickly if he is to succeed at Rugby Park.
Will need to get up to speed quickly. (Photo by Adam Starszynski/PressFocus/MB Media/Getty Images)
He will have to be patient though. Taylor is the club’s number one full-back and won’t be dislodged from the team through choice. Hamalainen will need to bide his time for a chance.
The QPR loanee should be decent cover for Taylor though. He is assured defensively and showed in flashes during his loan spell at Los Angeles FC that he has some attacking traits.
It’s the final year of his Loftus Road deal though. The 22-year-old could really be doing with playing regular games to try and prove why he should get an extension with the London club.
His final year to impress QPR. (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)
He’s a Killie player now though. His main focus will be trying to prove to Angelo Alessio that he deserves some game time in the near future.