IT was a dream for true any aspiring youngster, when QPR offered non-league regular Troy Hewitt a professional contract.

Front-runner Hewitt was plying his trade for Harrow Borough, in the Ryman League, after a previous spell at Ilford, when ambitious QPR came knocking on his door.

Then-Rangers boss Neil Warnock was so impressed with Hewitt, during a trial, that the Newham-born 20-year-old was offered a two-and-a-half contract.

“It was an offer I just could not turn down,” revealed Hewitt, who on Thursday signed for Colchester United on loan from QPR.

“Of course it was a big step up for me, but as a 20-year-old I just jumped at the chance. It would have been the same with any League club.

“It meant a complete change of lifestyle for me. I was just finishing the first year of a degree in marketing, so that has been put on hold.”

Hewitt, now 23, has made just one senior appearance for Premier League side QPR, as a 73rd minute substitute in a 2-0 home defeat to Rochdale in a Capital One Cup tie at the start of this season. But he did have a loan spell at Dagenham & Redbridge last term, and he also had a successful loan stint at Bury up until the turn of the year.

In fact, there is a chance that Hewitt could already have done Colchester a huge favour, in terms of avoiding relegation, even before he has kicked a ball for the Essex club.

And that’s because one of Hewitt’s two goals, for League One strugglers Bury, was the winner in a 2-1 victory at Scunthorpe last November – and in the final analysis, that might prove the difference between the Iron and not the U’s suffering relegation!

“It’s funny how some things turn out,” said Hewitt.

“I was grateful to Bury for giving me my chance to play some League football, because it can be quite over-whelming at first.

“League One is so physical and so quick, but I learnt about it during my time at Bury, and now I’m ready to take my chance at Colchester.

“It’s not easy at QPR at the moment. The club are struggling, and my current contract expires this summer, so I’m looking to make an impression.”

Hewitt is in today’s squad to face Crewe.