By Ben Kosky IT S no great surprise that anyone who missed the best part of 18 months football would feel grateful just to be back on the pitch. Certainly, after overcoming a troublesome ankle injury, followed by the even greater setback of a torn crucia

By Ben Kosky

IT'S no great surprise that anyone who missed the best part of 18 months' football would feel grateful just to be back on the pitch.

Certainly, after overcoming a troublesome ankle injury, followed by the even greater setback of a torn cruciate ligament, Akos Buzsaky is relieved to be playing regular football again.

The general consensus among those who have watched Buzsaky in action is that he functions best in a central role, yet QPR boss Jim Magilton has deployed him on the left flank so far this campaign.

But the Hungarian international insists he feels at home in that role - and proved the point with a barnstorming display against Barnsley, topped off by two goals, in Rangers' last outing at Loftus Road.

"Since I've been here, I've played everywhere - on the left, on the right, in the middle," said Buzsaky. "Of course there's a position I prefer to play, but as long as I'm in the team I don't mind.

"I feel really comfortable on the left side, because in England you usually have two central midfielders who are more defensive and then the two wingers can cut in and go forward.

"That's my game, I can create chances and score goals and I guess I can play better for the team there than in the middle. I'm enjoying it now and I've got my place in the team.

"We have a strong squad and you can't relax because if you have a bad game you're out. That's how it should be."

Ironically, the suspensions incurred by Martin Rowlands and Ben Watson may force Magilton to move Buzsaky into a central midfield position for the Rs' next game, at home to Preston North End on Saturday.

In the absence of any regular goalscoring forward, Rangers are heavily reliant on goals from elsewhere on the park - and Buzsaky's record shows he is more than capable of making a key contribution.

He has found the net roughly once every four appearances since his move from Plymouth nearly two years ago, but admitted: "I don't think any player, after a long injury, would compare himself to how he was before.

"I don't set a target, but the best I've had is 10 goals for QPR two years ago, so it would be nice if I could score more this season. But the main thing is to be in the play-offs."

Despite their 2-0 defeat at Swansea last time out, victory against Preston would bring Magilton's side firmly within striking distance of the top six.

"It's still very much early days," said the Rangers manager. "I believe that on our day we're capable of matching any team in the division - what we have to strive for is consistency.