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Several Championship clubs were linked with Kone following an excellent 18 months at Wycombe and in August, it was QPR who secured his signature<\/a>.<\/p>\n As has been the case throughout Kone’s rollercoaster journey over the past two years, another milestone – and perhaps the biggest of them all – was just around the corner.<\/p>\n His first Ivory Coast senior call-up and debut.<\/p>\n Three months on from joining the Hoops, Kone got the call every player dreams of and made his first international appearance as a 62nd-minute substitute in a 2-0 friendly win against Oman in Al-Seeb on 18 November.<\/p>\n “That’s what I’m playing football for, to represent my country at international level,” Kone told the Rising Ballers YouTube channel, external<\/span><\/a> after signing for QPR.<\/p>\n “Afcon, maybe the World Cup\u2026 that’s why I am always fighting, trying to be the best so I can get a call-up.”<\/p>\n Tavares said everyone at Athletic Newham “always knew Kone had something special”.<\/p>\n “His progress is no surprise to those who saw him every day and eventually he has earned the opportunity he deserved,” he added.<\/p>\n “A remarkable journey and one we are proud to have been part of.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n