FORMER Andover New Street Youth player Daniel Lewis took his first major step towards becoming a full time professional when he recently signed a three-year contract with London club Queens Park Rangers - just days after recovering from a broken leg!

The 16-year-old from Adelaide Road in Andover had been out of action for 20 weeks with the broken leg and only had the plaster removed days before receiving the news he had been waiting from the Nationwide League club with him being one of five youngsters being offer scholarships at their Football Academy.

"It's a fantastic news," said Daniel's proud father Trevor, himself a former New Street player. "He faces a lot of hard work but hopefully he will now go on and achieve his dream of becoming a full-time professional. He was in plaster for 20 weeks after breaking his leg and the news could not have come at a better time for the lad."

A pupil at the John Hanson School, Daniel first signed for QPR as a 14-year-old and has been training with them twice a week throughout the season as well as travelling up to London each weekend to play for the Academy team.

During his time at QPR he has captained both the Under-15 and Under-16 teams as well as making an appearance for the Under-19's but the highlight came last Autumn when he played for the Under-18's against Manchester United at Loftus Road in the AXA Youth Cup.

Sadly, he finished up on the losing side with QPR going down 3-1 and four days later he suffered one of the pitfalls of the game when he broke a shine in a match against Luton.

"QPR have been brilliant since he broke his leg, especially Academy director Gary Waddock," added Trevor. "He's managed to overcome the injury and they must believe he has the ability by offering him a scholarship." Daniel will now move to London on 1 July to start training as well as attending college in Hammersmith.