Rams keeper loaned to QPR

Out of favour Derby County goalkeeper Lee Camp has joined fellow Championship side Queens Park Rangers on a three months emergency loan deal.

The 22-year-old, a product of Rams` Academy, will head to Loftus Road after finding his first-team chances limited at Pride Park this season, Stephen Bywater and Lee Grant ahead of him in the pecking order, and it will be his second time at the club after being loaned to Hoops in 2004.

Camp expressed his delight at the move: ‘I got a phone call on Saturday to say that QPR had been in contact with Derby. Billy Davies explained the situation to me, and it went from there.
“I was keen to come back as soon as I heard of the interest because it’s a place I’ve got very fond memories of. The fans made me feel very welcome in 2004 and hopefully I can have as good a time here as I had last time.
“It’s tight at the bottom but I’m confident that this squad has enough ability to pull itself clear of relegation between now and the end of the season.”

He will have some familiar faces at Rangers with ex-Rams boss John Gregory and midfielder Adam Bolder, who joined them during the January transfer window.
Gregory was delight at the loan signing, he said: ‘We’ve been monitoring his situation for a while now and we looked at him in January, but it just wasn’t plausible.
“The timing is far better now though and we’re delighted to have him on board.
“First and foremost, he’s an excellent, all-round goalkeeper. He’s a decent shot-stopper, commands his box well and is a good kicker of the football.
“Having the ability to use your feet as a keeper is much more important in the present day than it was in the past and he’s very tidy in that department too.”

He has been on the outer at Pride Park for some time and has had loan spells at Burton Albion in the Conference in 2003, QPR 2004, and Norwich City earlier this season. While at the Loftus Road club on loan, he helped Rangers get back to the then division One.

He was touted as a future England goalkeeper, and has won four England under 21`s caps, but he has fallen out of favour at the Rams and it looks like his career may be else where.
He became an instant hero for the Rams, when he saved a penalty against Leicester City in his first ever start at Pride Park. In Derby’s end-of-season awards he won the Sammy Crooks Young Player of the Year award. He also won the Brian Clough Player of the Year.

This may be the first of many loan deals the Rams will be involved with, and as they say – Watch this space!!!!!