Adel Taarabt says he is committed to QPR - but prays the next two weeks heal an ankle injury he’s had since pre-season.
The midfielder appeared off the bench after 67 minutes with the ankle strapped in the 2-0 defeat to West Ham and is ready to seek specialist help if the problem doesn’t resolve itself during the international break.
But despite the disappointment of a move to AC Milan that never happened, the Morocco international insists he will knuckle down and help Rs off the bottom.
He said: “I have the African Cup in January, so I need to be fit.
“I didn’t have a very good pre-season. I was in the middle of the transfer, but it didn’t happen for ‘x’ reasons, and it was difficult for me. But I’m here and have to work hard and get in the team.
“Don’t forget this club helped me a lot. I’ve been here a long time and it’s close to my heart. I had a taste of something different last year, the Champions League, and that’s why I wanted a move, not because I don’t want to be at QPR.
“I have a good relationship with the fans, and I cannot forget that.”
Taarabt was as disappointed as his boss at the lack lustre performance in the east versus west derby battle, and reckons the squad has yet to become a united force.
He added: “We have the players but we have not gelled together yet, and up front we cannot make the creativity, and maybe it’s easy to blame the manager, but it’s down to the players.”
Taarabt is hoping treatment and maybe a friendly later this week can help the road to recovery, but is ready to seek extra advice if the ankle still hurts in 10 days or so.
“I came back earlier than I should have. Maybe a friendly game will help this week,” he added.
“How can you perform on it with an injury? Every time I press on it it’s a problem, and the way I play I get kicked - even in training. The way I did it, the ball was kicked against my foot and the ankle turned, and this happened because I didn’t have a good pre-season.”
The club insists Taarabt will only leave if any suitor coughs up the near £5million Rangers demand for his release. The player himself is happy with the arrangement - even if it did cost him a move to Serie A.
“It’s fair and normal the club have a fee, but it is a crazy fee,” he added.
