Matt Phillips insists his Premier League experience with Blackpool has made him hungry for more.
The QPR winger returns to his former club for the first time on Saturday following his £5million move to west London in August.
Phillips made more than 100 appearances during his three seasons at Bloomfield Road, with 27 of those coming in the top flight.
And despite suffering the heartbreak of relegation with the Tangerines, the 22-year-old says he’s desperate for another crack at the big time.
He said: “I had a great three years at Blackpool. There were a lot of ups and downs, like relegation, but I’ll always remember that first season in the Premier League.
“To go there when I was young and get a taste of it gives me the hunger to get back there.”
Phillips says he remains indebted to the Seasiders for taking a gamble on him when they plucked the youngster from League Two Wycombe in 2010.
But the Scotland star says there will be added spice coming up against his old team-mates at the weekend.
“It’s an added incentive to go and play against your former side. You want to do well,” he said.
“I still speak to a couple of the lads. I was room-mates with Tom Ince and was in the Scotland squad with Matt Gilks. I look forward to going back.
“I like to think I will get a good reception. I left the club on good terms – there was no bad feeling.
“I’ll always be grateful because they played a big part in my development, especially under Ian Holloway. He gave me the freedom, similar to Harry Redknapp, to go and express myself.
“Paul Ince was also a big help towards the back end of last season and did a lot of work with me on the training pitch, which is what you need as a young player."
