EFL Championship club Queen’s Park Rangers eye Linfield defender

Linfield defender Ryan McKay

Linfield teenage defender Ryan McKay is being monitored by English Championship club Queen’s Park Rangers.

The Belfast Telegraph understands that a QPR scout was at Windsor Park on Saturday to watch McKay play at left-back for the Blues in their 4-2 comeback victory over Warrenpoint Town in the fifth round of the Irish Cup.

The 19-year-old joined Linfield from Dundela one year ago in a transfer that also saw striker Rhys Annett move from Wilgar Park to Windsor.

McKay made his first team debut for David Healy’s side as a substitute in a home victory over Ballymena in January 2023 and was unfortunate to sustain a stomach injury the following month in his first start against Carrick resulting in him missing the rest of the season.

Rated highly at the club, the Blues handed McKay a two year professional contract in June.

He is not the only young Linfield player attracting scouts at present with Premier League and Championship representatives keeping a close eye on 17-year-old Aodhan Doherty, another starter against Warrenpoint.

Doherty, with a diamond of a left foot, has been impressing in recent weeks for Healy and is set for a move across water at some stage with a host of clubs interested.

While the conveyor belt of young talent coming through bound for England or Scotland shows no signs of slowing down at Linfield, Healy is determined to bring more new players to the club this month following the arrival of 21-year-old full-back Ethan McGee from Dungannon Swifts last week.

On the signing of McGee, Healy said: “I’m pleased to get Ethan. He is a player we have been watching for a number of years now. He is someone who can play in numerous positions and is coming to Linfield to kick on with his