Young’s World Cup bid set to benefit Rovers

That’s the message from manager Paul Dickov, who has been delighted with the impact of the loan left-back, whose signing was completed just over three hours before last Friday’s televised Championship loss at Middlesbrough.

The QPR defender, 23, came on for Paul Quinn at half-time at the Riverside Stadium and his performance was one of the few redeeming features on the night for Dickov, who is set to hand him his full debut against the Seagulls.

Dickov beat off competition from rival Championship sides to land Young, who is aiming to use his spell at Doncaster to boost his match fitness, mindful that he needs regular game time to keep himself at the forefront of South Korean selectors’ minds for the World Cup in Brazil next summer.

Young, who has signed on loan until Christmas, has been capped twice by the Red Devils – Asia’s most successful footballing nation – and has started twice for Rangers this term, including the 1-1 draw at Huddersfield in early August.

But with Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Armand Traore in front of him in the pecking order at Loftus Road, Young was keen to head out on loan, with Rovers thrilled to have him.

Dickov said: “We had conversations with QPR before and they didn’t initially want him to go out. It’s no slight on him that he has gone out because Assou-Ekotto, a Premier League player, is ahead of him. To get games, they wanted him to go somewhere where they played the right way and it’s for QPR’s benefit as well as the player’s that he’s come here.

“He’s been a starter for South Korea in their national team and he is desperate to get in that World Cup squad, which is great for us because he has got a point to prove and he is keen to come here and play well.

“He is potentially a top player.”

Key midfielder Richie Wellens is back in the fray this afternoon following a one-match ban, with Dickov admitting he was badly missed in the 4-0 hammering at Middlesbrough.

Dickov said: “Richie was a big miss with the calmness he gives us on the ball. Squad-wise, we are looking strong for Saturday.”

Against a confirmed passing side in Brighton, Dickov is calling on his side to get back to the in-your-face, pressing style which has served them so well this campaign.

The Rovers chief continued: “After last week, we need to start pressing all over the pitch and giving an all-action high-energy display again.”