QPR defender Jack Robinson admits the last 18 months have been a very challenging period in his life, but he is now feeling better than ever and ready to prove his worth on the field.

Robinson, who joined the Rs from Liverpool in August 2014, was loaned out to Huddersfield in his first season and suffered cruciate ligament damage while playing for the Yorkshire club the following March, condemning him to a long spell out of action.

He made his long-awaited QPR debut against Charlton Athletic in April this year, but a niggling knee problem related to his last injury has meant his only other competitive appearances for the Rs have come in the recent home defeat against local rivals Brentford and, most recently, the draw at Nottingham Forest – which resulted in manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s departure.

But Robinson, who has been receiving help outside of the game, is confident his injury hell has now come to an end.

He told the Times: “Having been out for so long I feel like now I’m getting back to my peak, and I just need a few more games and I’ll be back at the level I want to be at.

“It was just frustrating more than anything. My original injury was 12 months and then after coming back I kept picking up knocks here and there, so I’ve only made a few appearances. I think I coped with it well mentally, all in all.

“All you can do is keep your head. The worst thing to do is lose your mind but it’s easy to do. I did everything possible to get back – I’m just glad that it’s all over now.”

Robinson has praised former Rs boss Hasselbaink, who showed a keen interest in the left-back’s recovery while he was at the club.

He added: “We had regular chats and kept in close contact. I always let him know how I was feeling.

“I’ve spoken to people away from football to get my mind right and I think I’m at the stage now where I’m fine and just want to be back on the pitch playing again.”

Despite lying 17th in the Championship after a poor start to the season, the Rs are just six points off the play-offs and Robinson remains confident of an unlikely promotion push.

“This team should be going for promotion and that’s what we need to aim for by the end of the season,” he said.

“We just need to improve our performances and do our talking on the pitch.”