Armand Traore has turned to a self-help book in a bid to win a permanent slot in QPR's line-up.
The midfielder, who joined from Arsenal in 2011, admits his share of ups and downs with Hoops but believes he has found the solution in a book called The Chimp Paradox that will exorcise his demons.
Forget a monkey on his back. Traore needs to get the chimp out of his head.
The honest Frenchman revealed there have been times when he let his thoughts get the better of him. No more, it seems.
Niggling injuries, such as the back problem that sees him touch and go for tomorrow’s (Saturday) clash at Birmingham will be shoved to back of mind while he runs through a brick wall for the club.
“I’ve been reading a book that tells you there is a weak part of your brain. It explained how you can fight these things,” Traore said.
“Before, if I have a twitch in a hamstring, I think I can’t play. Now if I have the twitch, if it has to be a Grade three (muscle tear), it’s a Grade three – I don’t care.
“There is a chimp in everyone’s head, and the book tells you how to manage the chimp.”
The chimp is telling the 24-year-old he is better suited to playing in midfield than left-back he occupied when he first arrived at Loftus Road.
“I’ll play anywhere I’m asked, but I feel more free in midfield and feel comfortable, whereas I always had worries in defence,” he admitted.
If all goes to plan and Rangers are promoted automatically or via the play-offs, Traore hopes his loyalty is rewarded with a new contract.
He explained: “Ideally, we get promoted and I stay at QPR. I had a few good offers, one from Benfica for example and I said ‘no’ – I feel we can do something good at QPR.”
Rangers fans have been critical in the past of a player brought up in Paris who started his career with Monaco before moving to Arsenal.
Traore admits the barbs sunk deep.
“I might have given the impression I don’t care, but ask my wife, I really do care for QPR. God knows I do care because I want to win,” Traore said.
“I don’t want people to say he was as failure at QPR as well. You know what I mean?”
