Defender has been a regular starter for Rs in recent weeks after struggling for game time in first half of term

Darnell Furlong admits his spell out of the Queens Park Rangers starting XI earlier the season has spurred him on the make the most of every chance he gets with the Championship club.

The 22-year-old has been a regular fixture in Rs boss Ian Holloway’s plans in recent weeks, starting the last four league matches for the west Londoners.

Since the turn of the year, the full back has made seven appearances for QPR, having played just nine times for the Loftus Road outfit in the first five months of the season.

Furlong’s displays in recent weeks have gone a long way to helping the defender in his efforts to make the right back berth his own.

And the son of former QPR striker Paul says the experience of being out of the starting lineup earlier on in the season has spurred him on to grab his chance.

“At the start of the season I wasn’t playing and it was a difficult time for me,” he told the club website.

“Since I have come back into the team I wouldn’t say I value it more, but it has made me realise the stresses of not playing!

“I am just trying to continue to play and do as well as I can.”

Furlong’s return to the starting XI has coincided with a fine run of form for QPR, who are unbeaten in their last four since the defender was recalled for the game against Derby County.

The Rs played out a 1-1 draw with the Rams, before beating Sunderland 1-0 at home, winning 3-1 at Aston Villa and drawing 2-2 at Fulham last Saturday.

Those results have seen Holloway’s men take a giant stride towards safety, and Furlong revealed words of encouragement from their boss has aided the upturn in results.

“The manager has told us that we are far better than we think we are,” added Furlong.

“We are such a level-headed group that it can almost work against us — we almost don’t think we are one of the better teams in the division.

“When we are full of confidence we can beat the better teams in the league so it’s really promising for the rest of the season and for next year.”

Furlong will hope he can help Rs wrap up safety as soon as possible with more good displays.