Fitness boost for QPR midfielder Martin Rowlands Loftus Road, London Middlesex England

Club captain Martin Rowlands has been given the all-clear to join the rest of the QPR squad for pre-season training.

Midfielder Rowlands, 31, has not played since suffering cruciate ligament damage while playing for the Republic of Ireland last October.

"The knee is okay and I'm pleased with how it's going," said Rowlands.

"I'm able to join in with everything - the usual pre-season fitness training. And I'm looking to get back into full contract training by the end of July."

The injury came as Rowlands was establishing himself in the international side and came 10 months after a similar injury caused him to miss the second half of the 2008/09 campaign.

"It's been really frustrating and disappointing," he admitted.

"But now I'm just looking forward to getting back. The progress I've made means I can have a full pre-season, which is really important."

His injury means that Rowlands, who has two years of his current QPR contract left to run, has yet to feature under manager Neil Warnock.

Rowlands added: "It's up to me to show that I'm worth a place in his team.

"He's signed a few players and I'm sure will sign a few more, which is a good thing.

"I think we can really have a crack at it this season and am looking forward to it."

Article Source www.bbc.co.uk/sport