New QPR signing Kenneth Paal is looking to hit the ground running when the Hoops travel to Blackburn Rovers for their Championship opener on Saturday afternoon.

The left-back, who joined on a free transfer after leaving Eredivisie side PEC Zwolle, has been a regular fixture in pre-season and could be set to make his debut at Ewood Park this weekend.

The game will also mark the start of a new era at the club, as Michael Beale takes charge of his first competitive game as QPR manager, having been appointed this summer following the departure of Mark Warburton.

Paal spoke to QPR’s official website about his excitement for the new campaign, with the Hoops no doubt targeting a playoff push after falling away in the second half of last season.

He said: “I can’t wait for the first game. I played my first match at Loftus Road last week (in a friendly versus Crystal Palace) and I really enjoyed the feel of the stadium.

“Now hopefully the players, fans and everyone involved with QPR can have a good season together.”

Paal will likely compete with the returning Niko Hämäläinen at left-back, an area in which Beale needed to strengthen after Lee Wallace left Loftus Road on the expiry of his contract.

The 25-year-old arrives in West London having made over 100 Eredivisie appearances with PEC Zwolle and PSV Eindhoven.

However, this is the Dutchman's first expereince of English football, and admitted there were differences between pre-season in England and his native Netherlands.

He said: “Pre-season was very tough! I’m obviously on a new journey with a new club. But I have enjoyed it.

“I have to say that pre-season here is different to Holland, but that wasn’t unexpected. There are more running sessions here and the level of training is higher, with better players, which makes it tougher.

"It's gone well. It's a new situation for everyone with a new gaffer in charge and a new way of playing but it fits the players we have here and me, also. We’re ready for the season.

“We’ve learned from every game we’ve played in pre-season. We’ve done some things well, and there are other things that we know that we need to continue to work on.

“We know we can improve in terms of our shape, both defensively and offensively - it’s just a case of fine-tuning everything.”

Beale has so far lined up in a 4-3-3 shape in pre-season, and Paal could be integral to QPR’s success in that formation in the upcoming campaign, a responsibility that the man from Suriname is ready to take on.

He added: “It’s exactly the way that I want to play, the way I like to play.

“It’s a lot of work! A lot of running up and down the line. But that’s fine by me. I’m feeling good, I’m feeling fit, and I’m enjoying the way we set up.”