Mark Warburton explains rivalry between ‘competitive animals’ Dykes and Austin

QPR boss Mark Warburton has welcomed the healthy competition between his two star strikers Lyndon Dykes and Charlie Austin, insisting that it gives both players a ‘competitive edge’.

For the first time in his QPR career, Austin is no longer the main man leading the line up-front.

The former Southampton and West Bromwich striker, who returned to the club after five years away in January, has had to settle for a place as Dykes’ understudy more often than not this season.

But in the Scot’s absence on Friday night, he staked his claim to be QPR’s main man again after scoring the Hoops’ second goal in a 2-0 win over Luton Town.

Warburton said: “Charlie is a vitally important member of the squad. That’s football and if you ask Charlie, you want competition. You look at the midfield now, we could play Sam Field, Andre Gray, Stefan, Dominic Ball, Luke Amos or Stephen Duke-McKenna. Then we got options. George Thomas, Ilias Chair and Chris Willock. You have to have that competition.

“We need players who can play in a variety of positions, that’s what we need with a tight squad, what we can’t have is out and out positions.

“Charlie and Lyndon get well paid for what they do, they are competitive animals. If they are good competitive animals then they want competition. The moment any player feels casual and knows his place is guaranteed, he loses an edge. And if you lose an edge you won’t be performing out there.”