At full throttle Blackstock is a handful for any defence, but the England U21 international needs to add consistency to his game
A product of Oxford United’s youth academy, Blackstock started his career with Southampton, bursting onto the scene with a hat-trick against Colchester United in 2004 which demonstrated all of his pace, tricky and power.
He endeared himself further to Saints fans by netting against arch-rivals Portsmouth before spending loan spells at Plymouth and Derby in 2005.
Recalled by new Saints boss George Burley at the end of that year, he featured regularly before a £500,000 offer from Rangers was accepted by the club’s board in August 2006.
Living up to his price tag, he ended his first season at Loftus Road as top scorer with 14 goals, forcing his way into the England U21 international set up.
In contrast, 2007/08 was hard going, but he ended the season well with four goals in his last seven games.