Football

INJURED QPR defender Peter Ramage has vowed to return to the Rangers side before the end of the season.

Ramage underwent a successful operation last week after tearing cruciate ligaments in his left knee against Middlesbrough earlier in the month.

The Rs defender is facing a minimum of six months on the sidelines, but is determined to put that time to good use – and rejoin the squad in time for what he hopes will be a promotion party.

“I’m devastated because I wanted to play and, with Bradley [Orr] coming off, I’d been thinking I might get a run of games,” Ramage recalled.

“It’s just ridiculous the way it panned out – I did my other knee against Middlesbrough a few years ago when I was at Newcastle, but I felt more pain with this one.

“The operation went fine and the surgeon’s told me it could be anything between six and nine months, but obviously I want to get back as soon as I possibly can.

“Playing before the end of the season is my target and that gives me a little carrot to try and get back in the squad, but it may depend how we are at that moment.

“Hopefully by then we’ll be in a position where there’s nothing to play for, in a good way, and that’ll give me the chance to play a few games.”

But the 26-year-old’s projected comeback is very much on the back burner – for now, he is focused on the positive aspects of his enforced spell on the sidelines.

Ramage’s girlfriend Tanisha is due to give birth in March and, as well as planning for the arrival of their child, the player is keen to get involved in what he calls ‘the other side of the sport’.

He has already spoken to Amit Bhatia, the chairman of QPR Holdings, and club chairman Ishan Saksena about taking on a greater role in some of Rangers’ community projects.

“I’m a big believer that everything happens for a reason and I’ve got to make the most of the time I’ve got off – I want to keep busy, keep my mind fresh and not let this get me down,” said Ramage.

“Talking to people like Rowly and Akos, who’ve done their cruciates in recent years, I know that it can be a bit of a grind. But I should be around when the baby’s born and that will obviously be a great distraction.

“I also want to use this time to get involved in some of the Community Trust work and charity events, as well as starting to do a bit towards my coaching badges.

“Right now I’m in a position where I’ll probably be available to help out more than some of the other lads who are training every day.

“Part of it is that I want to keep my face noticed and not be forgotten, but the club have been very good to me with regards to my operation, rehab and so on, and I want to give something back to them as well.”