Queens Park Rangers are set to trigger their one-year option on the contract of defender Lee Wallace with Mark Warburton having been impressed with his recent performances.

Wallace arrived at QPR in the summer of 2019 on a two-year deal from Rangers and the experienced defender has at times struggled for both form and fitness during his spell with the club. That saw him limited to just 11 Championship appearances in his first campaign last term, and he had been struggling again to make a real impact at the start of this season.

However, Wallace has managed to turn his form around in the second half of the campaign and has played an instrumental role in helping the Rs rise up the Championship table. The 33-year-old has overall managed to weigh in with one goal and two assists in his 24 Championship appearances for QPR this term. He could well be a key player for them next term if he remains with the club.

It is believed by West London Sport that Wallace will see his contract extended by a further 12 months by QPR, with Warburton wanting him to remain with QPR due to his influence both on and off the field. That suggests that the defender could be handed an influential role in the side once again next term, as the Rs look to build on their positive end to the season.

The verdict

It is no surprise to see QPR want to extend the contract of Wallace by another year and it makes perfect sense considering the strong form he has managed to produce over the course of the second half of the season. It seems the 33-year-old is a positive influence in and around the dressing room as well which is something any successful needs to have.

Wallace was looking like a player that was set to leave the club at the end of a two-year deal with little real impact, but he deserves a lot of credit for the way he has managed to re-find his form and establish himself in the side. Warburton clearly always felt he could be a key player for them and he has been proven right.

Given that resources will need to spent elsewhere to improve other positions in the summer, it feels like something of a no-brainer to extend the defender’s deal and keep him around the dressing room for another year.