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Taarabt is currently with the Morocco squad at the Africa Cup of Nations

Adel Taarabt has told BBC Sport he wants to stay at Queens Park Rangers.

Taarabt revealed he was set to leave until Mark Hughes was appointed as manager in place of Neil Warnock.

The 22-year-old midfielder, who is currently in Gabon with the Morocco squad ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, believes changing the manager was the right thing for the club.

"I think we needed that. I had good years with Neil Warnock but we were in a bad position," he said.

quote I think if Mark Hughes was not coming in maybe I was leaving in January. The situation now has changed. They want to keep me

Taarabt began his career at Lens in France, before moving to the English Premier League with Tottenham in 2007.

Warnock then made Taarabt a QPR player in August 2010 following a successful loan period, and the Moroccan's good form in the Championship helped his team to win promotion to the top flight the same season.

However, in recent months his relationship with the former QPR boss soured, leading Warnock to state publicly: "If a player wants to leave, he can leave. I've never had a problem with that."

However, since Warnock was replaced by former Fulham manager Hughes earlier this month, Taarabt has resolved to stay in west London.

"I think if Mark Hughes was not coming in maybe I was leaving in January," Taarabt told BBC Sport.

"I spoke with the chairman and the situation now has changed. They want to keep me and we're going to have a discussion when we come back.

CUP OF NATIONS GROUP C FIXTURE LIST 23 Jan: Gabon v Niger

23 Jan: Morocco v Tunisia

27 Jan: Niger v Tunisia

27 Jan: Gabon v Morocco

31 Jan: Gabon v Tunisia

31 Jan: Niger v Morocco

"Mark Hughes is a great manager and I think the chairman is giving him money so he's buying players.

"I'm going to meet him and see what's going to happen."

Morocco begin their Africa Cup of Nations campaign against Tunisia on Monday.

They are one of the favourites to win the trophy and Taarabt believes the squad has the ability to go all the way to the final.

"It's going to be a big game for us, for the country and so I hope we can start well," said Taarabt.

"Yes, we are one of the favourites along with Ivory Coast and Ghana, but we just have to concentrate on our group and see what is going to happen."