It has been a tough old road for Grant Hall and his search for first-team football but this season the defender has made his mark.
The QPR faithful have had little to smile about recently however the former Spurs player has been the one beam of light to an otherwise disappointing campaign at Loftus Road.
The 24-year-old scored his first goal for the club in the 1-1 draw with Reading last weekend and faces the league leaders Burnley next in the penultimate game of the season.
"I was brought in as a back-up player so I am so pleased with how the season has gone and all the game time I got at QPR. My game has improved and my physical strength has come on leaps and bounds playing in one of the toughest of leagues. Chris Ramsey brought me into the club so I am indebted to him and then Hasselbaink has given me the chance to continue my progression," said Hall.
"Playing alongside Onuoha has been a huge help with all the experience he has and I feel we have built up a strong relationship at the centre of the QPR defence. We complement each other and our understanding has only got stronger with each game we play side by side. You could not ask for more from the club captain. He has made me feel at ease both on and off the pitch and I hope that together we can bring QPR back up into the Premier League."
Hall was released by Brighton when he left school and went on to play for Lewes in the Conference. It was then that Brighton realised the errors of their ways and re-signed the hometown boy.
He then went on to join Spurs as he neared his dream of playing in the Premier League but the 6ft 3ins defender never made a first team appearance for Tottenham.
With 40 appearances under his belt so far this season, Hall is finally clocking up the game time and will have a hard day at the office when the R's visit table-toppers Burnley.
I am not looking forward to the train ride up to Burnley Central next Monday.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.
