Jimmy Dunne deserves to be rewarded for his second-half of the season form, since his current contract at Loftus Road expires this summer. Marti Cifuentes’ selection as Queens Park Rangers manager this season has proven to be a masterstroke, with the Spaniard managing a spectacular turnaround in fortunes in his first six months in charge.
When the former Hammarby boss took over from Gareth Ainsworth at the end of October, the R’s were already six points behind those outside the bottom three.
31 league games later, Rangers have entered the last day without fear of losing a division, with the 41-year-old working wonders to turn outcomes around in West.
London and steer his side into safety. One key to Cifuentes’ success has been the emergence of Jimmy Dunne, who has proven to be a revelation in his new right-back role for the Hoops, with a series of vital performances crucial to their recovery.
Jimmy Dunne is back in the good books following a sensational second half of the season for Queens Park Rangers.
Dunne’s days at the club appeared to be numbered in the early part of the Championship season, with the former Fleetwood Town player struggling for game time for a side that struggled to get going at first.
The 26-year-old had only appeared four times before being fired by former Wycombe Wanderers manager Ainsworth on the eve of Halloween, with Rangers’ record of just eight points from 14 matches being the most concerning factor.
But under Cifuentes, it’s been a completely different story, with the Hoops playing like a playoff-chasing team for the last two-thirds of the season and Dunne prospering personally.
Rangers now boast one of the division’s most solid rearguards after being moved to the right side of the defensive line, making them difficult to break down and powerful enough to resist pressure from the best the EFL has to offer.
That stinginess was evident once more in the 4-0 thrashing of Leeds United in the penultimate week of the Championship season, with the Yorkshire club managing only five efforts on target over the course of 90 minutes at Loftus Road.
Not many teams will have confined Daniel Farke’s side to as few opportunities this season, and Dunne, along with the steady Steve Cook and Jake Clarke-Salter, has established his worth as a member of that steadfast backline.
Dunne’s ability to sniff out danger and clear his lines has greatly aided his team’s progress this season, with just Cook exceeding that metric among the R’s regulars. The defender has also demonstrated his eye for the exceptional this season, with a magnificent left-footed volley securing all three points for his club in a cellar battle with Birmingham City on Good Friday, and contributing to his side’s fight to stay in the league.
Jimmy Dunne’s Queens Park Rangers contract information
Dunne is now faced with the decision of whether to stick or twist, as his contract at Loftus Road expires this summer.
The R’s do have the option to extend his current contract by another year, but there has been no hint of another 12 months being agreed upon thus far, and time is running out before the term expires.
Rangers would be crazy to allow their defender depart this summer after such a fine showing for his new boss over the last six months, with his performances highlighting what has been so terrific about the Hoops since Cifuentes’ arrival.
Dunne’s zeal and all-or-nothing approach have earned him a lot of acclaim following his early season stumble, and his professional demeanor towards his career should not be overlooked.
QPR are a team that appears to be heading places under their current manager, and if they keep Dunne locked down, they will have a trustworthy alternative to cover both the right side of defence and in the middle if needed, and he deserves to be rewarded for such a great year to date.
Leave a Reply