Hughes can inspire Taarabt, says QPR man
QPR’s Danny Gabbidon believes Mark Hughes will get the best out of Adel Taarabt – if the Moroccan is prepared to work hard.
Taarabt, currently on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, fell out of favour under former boss Neil Warnock but Gabbidon is convinced new manager Hughes can give the player a new lease of life.
- Taarabt was out of favour prior to Hughes’ arrival.
“Adel’s a fantastic player and he has to be managed in the right way to get the best out of him,” said the R’s defender.
“He’ll come back and hopefully enjoy working with the manager, who loves those kind of players and wants us to play football and express ourselves.
“Hopefully Adel will come back and be ready to work. As long as he works hard and listens to the manager there’ll be no problem.
“The position we’re in means we need everybody pulling together and he [Hughes] knows that.
“Adel will enjoy working with him. He’ll enjoy the training and will benefit from working with him.”
Gabbidon is well placed to give an assessment of Hughes as a boss, having played under him for Wales – and his team-mates were quick to ask him about Warnock’s replacement.
“Of course a few of the lads asked me what he was like and I told them what to expect,” he said.
“One of the main things I said is that they’ll really enjoy training and working with the manager because every day you’ll feel like you’re learning and improving.
“He’s quite calm but he’s also got that side where if things need to be said he’ll say them.
“At the moment though he’s been calmly trying to get us to play the way he wants and to believe in ourselves.”
Gabbidon missed training on Thursday because of a hip problem and will be assessed ahead of Saturday’s vital match against bottom side Wigan.
Related story: QPR defender ready for ‘massive game’ (18 January)
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