Defender has not featured competitively for Rs since April, but played 45 minutes for under-23s on Monday

Queens Park Rangers head to Sunderland in the Championship on Saturday and though it may be too soon for Grant Hall to feature, the defender is nearing a return to first-team action.

The 25-year-old last featured competitively for the Rs back in April and has seen the early weeks of the new term hampered by a knee injury suffered in pre-season.

On Monday, though, the QPR centre-back played the first half for the under-23s in a 1-0 win over their Coventry City counterparts.

Hall knows he will have to play a few more games for the under-23s before he does return to the first team, but the defender is just happy to be back playing.

“I’m taking each day as it comes at the moment,” the former Tottenham Hotspur man told the club website.

“I’m on a tailored training programme and it is just about getting match fitness now for me and when I’m 100% ready I will know.

“I think I’ll probably need a couple of under-23 games before I can be considered. I’ve only just played 45 minutes, so this is just the start for me.”

It has been a frustrating spell on the sidelines for Hall, who was a regular under Ian Holloway before being dealt his first injury blow in April.

The 25-year-old then returned to training in time for the start of pre-season, though suffered a knee injury in a friendly against National League outfit Bromley.

The most recent setback has kept Hall sidelined for almost three months, and the centre-back says it has been a tough time for him.

“I’ve been close a few times and that is why it has been so frustrating. I’ve got to that final hurdle and I’ve gone back out on the pitch and it has reacted,” he added.

“I went down the route of having three injections to clear out the problem in my knee and it seems to have worked. Touch wood it has done the trick now.

“I don’t need any more injections and I’ve completed all my rehab work and had no reaction. I feel really good.”

With Holloway having had to field left back Jack Robinson, the QPR boss will surely be delighted to see Hall nearing a return to full fitness.

However, without the 25-year-old this weekend, the QPR boss will hope he has another quality at the back to keep Sunderland quiet and secure a win in the north east.