Kevin Doyle reckons he will not only shoulder the pressure of stepping up a division – QPR’s newest forward welcomes it.

In fact, a great weight was lifted when the Irish international scored after just seven minutes in the 3-3 draw with Burnley on Saturday.

It was an impressive start to his third club in England after moving on loan from Wolves in League One to Rangers at the top of the Championship.

It also heralded a first goal in three months – the last came against lowly Stevenage on November, and another milestone in the career of a man who cost Wolves £6.5million just three-and-a-half years ago.

He said: “I’ve never scored on my debut before so that was a good.”

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Doyle admits his star has plummeted in tandem with the once Midlands giant, but has he suffered low times in the past as well?

“Low times?” he repeated. “I’ve been relegated twice, and it’s fair to say I need to get my career back on track.

“Pressure? Sure, there’s pressure – but it’s good pressure, you know?"

Doyle checked out Hoops once he got wind they were in for him last week with Karl Henry – once a team-mate at Molineux.

The 30-year-old also knows Richard Dunne well from their time together in the Ireland set-up, with the striker reckoning a revival at Rangers can only help add to the 56 caps already earned in emerald green.

He said: “It was very difficult to pick me while I wasn’t playing, but now I’m playing here whatever happens, happens.”