EVEN the appearance of Julio Baptista could not prevent Wanderers' development squad from crashing 5-0 at QPR.

The former Brazil striker was given international clearance to appear for David Lee's Under-23s as he bids to try and win a contract at the Macron.

The Whites conceded five times in the second half - Aramide Oteh and Chay Tilt scoring two apiece either side of a goal from Danny Rowe.

Phil Parkinson paid tribute to the 35-year-old's desire to travel down to West London and prove his fitness.

Ex-Arsenal, Real Madrid and Roma star Baptista has been searching for a new club since leaving Orlando City in MLS last November.

“We’d said there probably wasn’t anything available because we hadn’t seen him play for a long time," Parkinson said of his appearance at Lostock last week. “I had a chat with David Lee and we agreed it would be good for the kids to have him around the dressing room. I don’t think there’s any harm.

“I have to give him credit because he didn’t need convincing to play."

Another free agent looking to earn a deal with Wanderers is former player Joey O’Brien.

The 31-year-old Irishman has been drafted into first team training of late after proving his fitness over the last few weeks.

“Joey knows Nick Allamby, our sports scientist, and asked if he could do some work in the afternoons with him, one-on-one,” Parkinson said.

“He has joined in a bit of training over the last week and is determined to make a right go of it. He lives close to the training ground and has worked a bit with the first team and a bit with the Under-23s.

“He’s a good lad to have around as well because he’s a good talker.”