Queens Park Rangers snap up free agent Jack Colback on two-year deal

Queens Park Rangers have signed Jack Colback on a free transfer following his release by Nottingham Forest earlier this summer.

The 33-year-old midfielder was a free agent after leaving Forest at the end of his contract, and he has now put pen to paper on a two-year deal with Championship side QPR.

The club also have the option of extending that for a further year, potentially keeping Colback at Loftus Road until 2026.

"I'm happy and excited to get going. It will be nice to get the training kit on and get out there with the lads," he told the club's website.

"I'm excited to be part of what the manager wants to do here. It was an easy decision. This is a tough league, it's relentless. I am well used to that and prepared for it.

"Success in this division takes a lot of work, you have to be ready to do the ugly side of the game. That's the difference between the two levels in terms of the Championship and the Premier League.

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"There's a difference in terms of the tactics, too. In this division you will come up against teams who want to play football a lot, and you will come up against teams who will be in your face and more direct, which is something you don't get as much in the Premier League.

"You have to be ready for the fight, and if you're not ready you will be left behind.

"I will bring 100% effort. I feel I have done that wherever I have been. I will bring experience, a calmness on the pitch, a confidence and a leadership.

"What fans want is the players to turn up and give 100% for the shirt. You have to have a pride in what you do, individually and for the team and the fans you're representing. I have always had self-pride in terms of that."

QPR manager Gareth Ainsworth added: "I am really pleased to bring Jack in. He is a great player and he had one or two other suitors but he chose QPR because he wants to buy into what we are trying to do here, which is great.

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"He will add energy and experience to us. He has got quality on the ball, but he has tenacity off it and a winning mentality, which will hopefully be contagious.

"The last thing we want to do is risk him getting injured. Jack will show me this week where he is and hopefully we can get him on the pitch pretty soon."

Colback has previous Championship experience from his time at Ipswich Town, Newcastle United and Forest, winning promotion to the top flight with the latter two clubs.

However, the midfielder managed just 11 Premier League appearances for Forest last season and was subsequently deemed surplus to requirements by manager Steve Cooper.

QPR begin the new Championship campaign away to Watford on Saturday, although Colback is not expected to start as he builds his way back up to match fitness.