Connolly wants QPR place

Defender surprised by speedy return from illness

By Ben Collins   Last updated: 27th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Connolly wants QPR place

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Matthew Connolly is hoping to hold down a regular spot in the Queens Park Rangers line-up after making a speedy return from illness.

The defender was laid low with glandular fever in October and made a surprise comeback in the 2-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday earlier this month.

The 22-year-old centre-back did not even expect to be in contention yet ended up playing over an hour before being recalled to the starting line-up for last Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Doncaster.

"I wasn't even supposed to travel but Damion Stewart got injured so they said although I'd travel, I'd probably just stay in the stands," he told skysports.com.

"Then Gary Borrowdale got ill so I was on the bench and then Fitz Hall got injured after half an hour so there were a lot of ifs and buts, but I was very happy to get on.

"I'd only been back in training for a week so I got cramp in the last 10 minutes but I think the adrenaline pulled me through.

"I really enjoyed it, I thought we played really well and we won, which was the most important thing."

Trying to improve

Connolly made 35 league appearances for the Hoops last season as they finished a creditable 11th in the Championship.

And now the former Arsenal trainee is hoping for another extended spell in Jim Magilton's starting line-up after making his first start in just over two months at Doncaster.

Rangers host Coventry on Saturday and will be looking to cement their position in the play-off places after failing to win their last two at Loftus Road.

"I want to play every game now, especially after missing that month,"

Connolly added. "I'm trying to improve every aspect of my game and hoping to get a run in the team.

"It was nice to get back in on Saturday, the result was disappointing but we hope to bounce back this week.

"We aim to win every game but at the same time you can't underestimate anybody in this league because anyone can beat anyone.

"It was disappointing not to win the last two home games but before that we'd put in some great performances at home so we just have to concentrate on reproducing that in the ones coming up."