QPR & Newcastle United agreement has not worked out - there may be serious regrets | OneFootball

Harrison Ashby may be wishing he was recalled to St. James' Park in the January transfer window.

Newcastle United defender Harrison Ashby hasn't enjoyed the most fruitful loan spell in the Championship with QPR this season.

The 23-year-old signed on a season-long loan deal back in the summer transfer window, having joined the Magpies from West Ham United in January 2023.

A former Scotland youth international, this move to Loftus Road wouldn't be his first taste of Championship football, as he'd spent the 2023/24 season out on loan with Swansea City.

He hasn't quite been able to break into the first-team picture at St. James' Park since his move to Tyneside, however, and it was hoped that another campaign in the second tier would see him become a real key figure for QPR, and put himself into Eddie Howe's thinking ahead of next season.

Jimmy Dunne presence has seen Harrison Ashby struggle to carve out starting role with QPR

A proven and performing player at the peak of their powers; it's so often the kryptonite to a young players' success during a loan spell.

QPR's Jimmy Dunne has been outstanding for the Hoops this season, and as such, he looks set to be one of the hottest names to hit the Championship free agent market in the summer, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season.

A centre-back by trade, the 27-year-old has made the transition into more of a full-time right-back this term, and his performances in the blue and white have seen him become regarded by many as one of the best players in that position in the division.

This move to full-back has hindered the progression and opportunities for Ashby, who is a right-back by trade. As such, the young Newcastle loanee has had to see a number of his chances come from playing left-back this season.

Heading into their 34th league game of the season away at Portsmouth this weekend Ashby has made just 20 appearances in the Championship so far, with 12 of those being as part of Marti Cifuentes' starting XI.

Dunne, on the other hand, has appeared in 32 league games, starting all of them. The Irishman has been a vital attacking component as well as a defensive one in Cifuentes' team, registering 1.31 shots per 90 and 2.94 touches in the opposition box per 90, as per FotMob.

Ashby, however, is registering an average of just 0.7 shots per 90, as well as an average of 0.86 touches in the opposition box per 90 in the Championship so far, which shows he has less attacking intent than Dunne on the pitch.

It could have been best for all parties if Harrison Ashby's QPR loan was terminated in January

This significant difference in attacking output between the two players is perhaps a leading reason as to why Ashby hasn't been able to pose a bigger threat to Dunne's starting role.

However, his place in the squad has still been of importance to QPR this season despite not starting a game since a 6-2 FA Cup defeat to Leicester City on 11 January, as he is the only other natural right-back in the team.

Therefore, the Hoops were understandably keen to keep him at Loftus Road in January, as should his loan have been terminated, Cifuentes would have no natural cover for Dunne in that position should his star defender miss time through injury/suspension.

But as far as Ashby and Newcastle are concerned, a winter recall could've perhaps been a wise move. For the Magpies, they would surely be keen to see their player performing a larger role for the R's than what he has been.

As for Ashby, he's reaching the stage of his career where regular football is essential to his development and career progression, with the Scot turning 24 in November this year.

He doesn't have as much senior experience as he would surely like given he made his senior debut for West Ham back in the 2020/21 season, and by seeing his time at QPR cut short in January, he could've perhaps sourced a more beneficial and fruitful loan spell elsewhere for the second half of the season.

So, unless Dunne is forced to miss time between now and the end of the season, Ashby looks resigned to continue his role of brief substitute cameos and afternoons spent as an unused substitute, and that could bring about major regret for the young defender in the final weeks of his QPR career.