ALBION winger Kazenga LuaLua has joined Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers – but he could still play a big part in the promotion push.

LuaLua’s loan move to Loftus Road for the rest of the season will pit him against many of the teams immediately below the table-topping Seagulls.

Ian Holloway’s Rangers visit third-placed Reading tomorrow night and second-placed Newcastle, LuaLua’s former club, in their next away game after that at the beginning of next month.

The Seagulls will be hoping LuaLua, explosive on his day, shines against their pursuers as a parting shot. The 26-year-old is unlikely to play for the club again.

LuaLua, under contract until June 2018, has slipped down the pecking order in the last year under Chris Hughton since the signings of Anthony Knockaert and Jiri Skalak in the January 2016 transfer window and the recent return from a year-long injury absence of Solly March. He also has Scot Jamie Murphy ahead of him.

LuaLua wanted a move in the summer transfer window. His cause has not been helped since then by a knee cartilage injury – which required surgery and sidelined him for two months – and a lengthy suspension.

LuaLua, used as a senior pro for the under-21s, was sent-off in the closing stages of last month’s Checkatrade Trophy tie at AFC Wimbledon.

His subsequent abusive behaviour towards the officials resulted in a six-match ban, from the last four first team fixtures and two in the competition in which he received his red card.

LuaLua has scored 22 goals in 183 appearances for Albion, including loan spells, during a near seven-year career with the club, the last against Newcastle at the end of August.

Holloway has long been an admirer. He name-checked LuaLua when picking his Championship team of last season in his former role as Sky TV’s Football League expert before returning to manage Rangers in November.

Holloway urgently needs more attacking firepower. Rangers have lost seven of his first ten matches in charge and scored only eight goals.

LuaLua’s exit follows Elvis Manu’s loan return to Holland with Go Ahead Eagles, a permanent move for midfielder Jake Forster-Caskey to Charlton and development squad member Jack Harper’s departure back to Spain with Malaga.

Rohan Ince and Rob Hunt are also expected to go out on loan this month.

Meanwhile, Albion’s home game against Cardiff, postponed at a fogbound Amex on December 30, has been rearranged for January 24, four days after Sheffield Wednesday’s visit and four days before the FA Cup fourth round tie at Lincoln or Ipswich in which Hughton will again make wholesale changes