The response from football fans all over the country has been resoundingly positive following the Guardian's in-depth interview with QPR defender Steven Caulker.

The 25-year-old spoke openly about his mental health struggles over recent years, sparking an outpouring of empathy from all corners of the sporting world.

As Caulker continues his road to recovery, the next step for him is to re-enter the world of football, which leads to the question; what is the next step for the clearly talented defender?

Let's be frank, no-one outside of Queens Park Ranger Football Club knows the ins and outs of what has happened during Caulker's withdrawal from action, but what we do know is that the club are not currently getting value for money on one of their highest-paid stars.

The most important matter in this rather sensitive case is the well-being of the man himself, and what he needs is to enjoy his football once again.

With just one year remaining on the defender's contract at Loftus Road, the club will be looking for a mutually beneficial solution this summer, with the defender more than likely to seek a fresh start, which is perhaps the best thing.

But what if the club was able to offer Caulker a platform to find his feet and start to enjoy his football again?

This would need to offer the club some form of assurance from a player who has been an unreliable asset since joining the club, but the suggestions of a reduced contract, or even a pay-as-you-play deal could make the idea more plausible.

But we do know that Ian Holloway would like to see the defender given an opportunity.

If this could be done, and it is a big "if", the optimist in me sees a solution which could work for both parties, with Caulker being given a chance to reignite his football career, and QPR pulling off what has the potential to be one of the biggest coups in the history of the football league.

I realise, a lot of water has already gone under the bridge, but as Caulker looks for an opportunity to go and enjoy his football again, wouldn't it just be ideal if the Hoops got to reap the benefits of someone who, on his day, is the best defender in the Championship.