24. Pat Kanyuka

Pat Kanyuka signed a two-and-a-half-year professional contract in February 2005.

The 17-year-old central defender had impressed in Joe Gallen's Under 18s team and the reserves and looks to have a big future at Loftus Road. Ranger’s almost lost the big defender after Manchester City showed a strong interest but Rangers managed to hold onto him.

Kanyuka joined Rangers from Leyton Orient and continued his development with the QPR coaches and is affectionately known among the QPR staff as “Little Dan” due to his resemblance in size and style to Dan Shittu.

Kanyuka made his first team debut against Burnley and earned rave reviews from the QPR fans at the game with most of them awarding him man of the match for the way he dealt with an experienced front two from Burnley.

The plan for last season was for the big defender to be loaned out and get him first team experience but a bad injury during a reserve game meant he spent most of the season on the sidelines.

He returned to the first team this season at Port Vale in the cup and he did well before doing even better settling the defence down and helping the side to a couple of big wins. Injuries again hurt his chances of making a position in the team his own but he returned to the side at right back during the Christmas period and once again impressed.

Injuried hit again though causing him to miss most of the rest of the season but he returned towards the end to produce some outstanding performances against Cardiff, Preston and Coventry to help keep QPR in the Championship. Pat Kanyuka is another player that if he can avoid injuries will be an excellent player in the Championship.