Josh Scowen is relishing his new role on and off the pitch with Queens Park Rangers

Playing in a more advanced position, it was the 26-year-old that got his side off the mark as they opened up their pre-season campaign with a 3-1 defeat to Austria Vienna at the Generali Arena, the midfielder pulling the Rs level after a Yoann Barbet own goal.

Second-half goals from Edomwonyi Bright Osagie and Yateke Sterling Siloe sealed defeat for Mark Warburton’s men but Scowen is looking at the bigger picture, considering his new position on the field as one of the squad’s more senior members. 

“I’ve got over 100 Championship games under my belt now, so it’s certainly something that I want to help the younger lads with,” he said.

“It was a good run-out for all of us, and for me to get 90 minutes under my belt so soon in pre-season was great.

“Now I can build on that over the coming games so that I’m ready to go when the season starts.

“We have learnt a lot and over the course of the time we have been out here, we have certainly got a lot sharper.

“It has also given everyone a chance to get to know each other and for the new lads to settle in, which is great.”

Meanwhile, Warburton was not too displeased with defeat in Austria as his side continue their preparations for the upcoming Championship season with fixtures against Boreham Wood, Oxford United and Watford on home soil. 

The Rs open up with an away trip to Stoke on August 3 and Warburton will be hoping that his players can pick up the pace of their play before then as they attempt to hit the ground running.

“Overall, [there were] lots of positives but we have to learn from the mistakes. There’s lots we can do better but that’s the first pre-season game and overall, there’s many things to be happy about,” said the QPR boss.

“We never ever want to lose a game of football. That’s the nature of the game we’re involved in but I saw some good ball movement. They switched it effortlessly in the first half. They worked them, they moved the ball along.

“When we take the extra touch, we allow the opponent to catch us – when we play really fast and move the ball quickly, like we did for long periods, we look a good team.

“All credit to the players. They’ve done a lot of work this week. They’ve taken on board some ideas, so hopefully, with the next game now on Tuesday against Boreham Wood, we can go harder again.”