Richard Dunne has been awarded a one-year contract extension after passing the 30-game mark for QPR.

The Republic of Ireland centre-back joined Rangers in July after being released by Aston Villa.

He made his 30th appearance of the campaign against Charlton Athletic in February, activating a clause in his contract.

The centre-back missed the entire 2012-13 season with a groin injury, but he says he has put that problem behind him and is determined to lead QPR back to the Premier League.

“I have a contract for next season, and over the next month or so the aim is to get back in the Premier League,” Dunne said.

“It gives you a certain appetite when you’ve missed some games and not played for a while. It’s a second chance of playing again.”

QPR look destined to finish in the play-off spots this season. Dunne added: “We may have missed out on automatic promotion – but it’s still there. We have a second chance for promotion and we have to make the most of it.”

Dunne suffered months of persistent injury problems prior to joining QPR. After breaking his collarbone while playing for Aston Villa in February 2012 he then sustained a groin injury which baffled specialists and at one stage seemed set to end his career.

His start for QPR in the Capital One Cup clash against Exeter in August last year was his first club appearance for 15 months, and he has gone on to play 37 times for the Rs this season.

“All of a sudden I was told by three different doctors that I was going to struggle to come back from an injury,” he added. “When you get a second chance you want to grab it with both hands and make the most of it. I want to play in the Premier League again. If we can do it on a big day out at Wembley we then get to go and prove ourselves in the Premier League next season.

“The initial injury came from wear and tear and probably a failed medical procedure which made things worse than it was. Now I look after myself and do certain stretches.

“I have to know when to train and when not to. Over the last few weeks we have had so many games that it’s hard to get the training sessions in. With groin injuries the more you rest them the harder it is for it to recover, so it is important to get the balance right.”