ALEJANDRO Faurlin admits he has had to adapt his style of play to retain a place in the QPR side this season.

The Argentinian midfielder played an attacking role after he signed for Rangers in the summer of 2009, but has settled into a deeper and more industrious position alongside Shaun Derry this year.

Their partnership in front of the back four has been one of the key factors in the Rs’ success so far, and Faurlin feels the change was essential for his long-term prospects in English football.

“The system for me is a new challenge,” declared the 24-year-old. “Last season I was a little bit more free to play, now there is more balance and we also give the team more balance.

“I want to stay here in England and enjoy my life here and that means you have to change your game as well. We are a very good unit when we play together – this team has a high tempo and we give everything.

“We have players like Wayne [Routledge], Adel [Taarabt], Tommy Smith, Hogan [Ephraim], they have to create something and we’re always there to win the second ball. That’s how it works.”

But an adjustment to his role has certainly not negated the creative side of Faurlin’s game and he set up the winning goal for Routledge as Rangers’ 10 men triumphed at Reading last weekend.

And the midfielder has already doubled his own scoring tally from last year – he netted in the Rs’ home win over Reading earlier in the season and added another in the 2-2 draw with Bristol City last month.

“I know I have to score more but it’s also true that I’m playing differently this season,” Faurlin acknowledged. “I try to take more shots and if everyone in the team does more shots, that’s all right.

“I got an assist at Reading and these are important to me as well. But this is not about Faurlin, it’s about QPR – I hope at the end of the season we will celebrate something and we are focused on that.”