PAUL Smyth has committed his future to QPR by signing a one-year extension to his contract, which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2021.

Smyth joined the R’s from Northern Irish side Linfield in 2017. He spectacularly burst onto the scene at Loftus Road by coming off the bench to net the winner against promotion-bound Cardiff City on his debut 12 months ago.

Since then he has made a total of 18 first-team appearances, scoring twice.

Smyth, 21, told www.qpr.co.uk: “I am absolutely delighted to sign the new deal.

“It means I can concentrate now on my football and doing all I can to break into the first-team in that time.

“I have developed so much since I have been here, and particularly since Steve McClaren came in. He has spoken to me and told me what I need to do and what he wants from me. He has helped me so much.

“My aim now is to carry on developing and then when I get my chance in the first team, make sure I take it.”

Smyth’s attacking style has made him a huge favourite with the R’s fans, and he is aiming to build on that over the coming two years.

“The fans have been great with me,” he added. “They give me a lot of support.

“They pay their money to come and back us, so whenever I play I want to put a show on for them and get them out of their seats.

“Now that I have signed a new deal, hopefully I will get the chance to do that more and more.”

QPR boss McClaren added: “Paul is an exciting talent who is developing all the time so we are delighted to see him extend his stay with us.

“He has got a great work ethic and is eager to learn and improve.

“Like a lot of the players on the fringe of the first team, he hasn’t had much gametime because the ones with the shirts have been doing so well this season.

“That’s been hard for him but I can’t fault his attitude.

“For him to progress, he needs to play games. That’s something we are all very wary of.”