Northern Ireland international Paul Smyth insists he "can't wait to get started" after returning to Queens Park Rangers.
Smyth is back for a second spell at Loftus Road after agreeing a three-year deal with the Championship club.
He originally joined the Rs from Linfield in 2017 but made just 23 appearances – scoring two goals and claiming one assist.
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He had loan spells with Accrington Stanley, Wycombe and Charlton during that time before joining Leyton Orient in July 2021. Smyth went on to score 14 goals in 68 appearances for the O's - 10 of those goals came last season as the club earned promotion to League One.
That form earned Smyth plenty of praise and personal recognition, with the ex-Linfield man being named London Football Awards 2022/23 EFL Player of the Season.
And QPR have made their move to bring the diminutive winger back to Loftus Road.
Smyth told the club's website: “It’s brilliant to be back and I can’t wait to get started.
“It genuinely feels like I have been out on loan for two years! I had a brilliant season with Leyton Orient and the interest was there with QPR and I just had to get it done. I want to give it a chance again in the Championship. I couldn’t turn it down.
“I have been here before, I know what it’s like and I have a point to prove to myself. I want this. I want to show what I can do.”
Current QPR boss Gareth Ainsworth knows Smyth well, having worked with the Belfast man during their time at Wycombe Wanderers.
Smyth says those loan spells he had were a blessing in disguise for his career.
“The best thing for me during my first spell at QPR was to go out on loan and try to get that game-time and that experience," he added.
“The gaffer trusted me at Wycombe, he gave me that opportunity to flourish and to be myself. That’s what I did while I was there, so with him being here it was a no brainer.
“I know what he’s like and how he wants to play, and that fits me to a tee.”
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Meanwhile, head coach Ainsworth hailed Smyth as one of the "outstanding talents" in League Two last season.
And he is confident the 25-year-old can translate that form to the Championship.
He said: “I am really pleased. Paul was one of the outstanding talents in League Two last season. He was a big reason why Orient won the league and why they were so potent going forward.
“When he left Wycombe there was still development work to do and now I believe he’s getting close to the finished article which is one heck of an attacking talent.
“He’s quick, gets crosses in, makes things happen, and he’s multi-positional too, which is a big advantage for us.
“I think he’s at home on that right-hand side where he’s getting at fullbacks, getting crosses in, and chipping in with goals but equally he can do that on the left and I know from our time together at Wycombe that he can play down the middle as well.”
Smyth has won three caps with Northern Ireland, scoring the winning goal on his debut in a 2-1 friendly victory over South Korea back in March 2018.
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