Frontman moved to Loftus Road from Cottagers in January 2017

Brent & Kilburn Times: Queens Park Rangers' Matt Smith (left) and Aston Villa's John Terry (pic: Joe Giddens/PA)Queens Park Rangers' Matt Smith (left) and Aston Villa's John Terry (pic: Joe Giddens/PA) (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Queens Park Rangers forward Matt Smith will return to his old stamping ground on Saturday when his current team visit Fulham in the Championship.

The 28-year-old moved to Loftus Road from the Cottagers in January 2017 after two-and-a-half years at Craven Cottage.

Smith will return to his former home for the first time since that move this weekend, and will hope to help the Rs continue their recent good form.

The ex-Leeds United attacker played the full 90 minutes on Tuesday as Ian Holloway’s men won 3-1 at promotion hopefuls Aston Villa.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Current Queens Park Rangers forward Matt Smith in action for Fulham earlier in his career (pic: Adam Davy/PA)Current Queens Park Rangers forward Matt Smith in action for Fulham earlier in his career (pic: Adam Davy/PA) (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)

Goals from Ryan Manning, Jake Bidwell and Luke Freeman saw QPR make it three league games without defeat, taking seven points from nine in that time.

And Smith believes the display at Villa Park in midweek was the best from the Loftus Road club since he joined from Fulham last year.

“It’s comfortably the best performance I’ve seen from a QPR side since I’ve been at the club,” he told the club website.

“I thought we were absolutely superb throughout the team, incredible. That has given us a huge lift, the lads are buzzing and the changing room is as buoyant as I’ve ever seen it.

“We covered every blade of grass tonight and showed our quality in important areas.

“It’s come from a togetherness and a belief we have had. We didn’t fall in a big arena, on a big occasion, and I thought to a man we were superb. I am really proud of everyone.”

Results have picked up for QPR since a chastening 5-2 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest at the end of February.

Since then, the Loftus Road club have not lost, taking points off Derby County, Sunderland and Aston Villa. It has been a fine response from Holloway’s men since the defeat to Forest, and Smith declared himself pleased with how the squad has reacted.

“The Forest game was odd because we had more of the ball; I’ve been beaten by five before in my career and that one didn’t feel like a thumping because we had loads of shots and possession,” he added.

“I don’t think we were too disheartened from that as strange as that sounds and we’ve managed to bounce back with aplomb.”

Smith will hope QPR can keep up their good form at Fulham.