Hoop Dreams - QPR FC

QPR's latest signing, Nigel Quashie, could be drafted straight into the centre of the R's midfield to add an extra bit of steel as QPR attempt to revitalise their play-off ambitions.

Quashie joined the R's for the second time today after being released by West Ham and the 31-year old Scotland international, who signed a contract until the end of this season, will be available for Tuesday's trip to Nottingham Forest.

QPR's form has considerably dipped since they lost both captain Martin Rowlands and Gavin Mahon from their midfield to long-term injuries and with Ben Watson also returning to Wigan following his loan spell, Quashie could be immediately used to plug a gap in the R's middle line.

"I guarantee I will play with passion," he told the club's official website.

"It's about putting your foot in and working as hard as you possibly can."

He started his career as a trainee with QPR for whom he made 58 appearances, before joining Tuesday's opponents in a £2.5 million deal in 1998 and went on to make over 300 Football League appearances for a number of clubs including Southampton and Portsmouth.

Mick Harford was confident that his experience and combative playing style would be a major asset to the R's.

"He will give us added experience in the middle of the park and is a great addition," he told the QPR website.

"No disrespect to anyone else but I feel we have missed Martin Rowlands and Gavin Mahon's experience.

"Nigel will give us some of that."

Following a two-year spell with Forest, Quashie went on to play for Portsmouth, Southampton and West Bromwich Albion.

He joined West Ham halfway through the 2006-7 season for an initial £1.5m, which was increased to £1.75m when the Hammers avoided relegation at the end of that season.

A foot injury kept him out for the whole of the following season and in 2008-9, he was loaned out to both Birmingham City and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

This season he made seven appearances and scored twice while on loan at MK Dons.