Massimo Luongo has returned to training at QPR following his recent break.
Rangers have completed their season but the Australia international was back at their Harlington training ground on Tuesday as part of his preparations for the World Cup.
The club recently decided to give Luongo time off and not select him for the final two matches of the Championship campaign.
It is standard practice for players to be given at least six weeks off each summer, meaning those involved in international tournaments return to training ahead of a new domestic season significantly later.
Rangers, already well safe from relegation, and Luongo therefore decided that he should have two of those weeks off before the season ended and return for pre-season training with them sooner than he would have otherwise.
Manager Ian Holloway explained the decision on the club’s website, saying: “We’ve had to think a bit long-term with this one because our priority is his health and well-being ahead of next season.
“With that in mind – and to ensure he is back up and running as quickly as possible in pre-season – we have given him a couple of weeks off to rest up ahead of him meeting up with the Socceroos, which will, in turn, allow us to get him back quicker than normal after the World Cup.
“At the same time, it will allow me to have a look at some of our younger midfielders in the last two matches of the season, so it’s a win-win from that point of view.”
This post was last modified on 08/05/2018