Derry insists his loyalities lie with Millwall

There will be no divided loyalties for Shaun Derry on Saturday – he wants Millwall to beat QPR.

The veteran midfielder, who is on loan at The Den from Rangers, joined the Lions after it was made clear he was not part of boss Harry Redknapp’s plans at Loftus Road.

And Derry, who is ineligible to play in this weekend’s derby, explained: “People might presume I am split by the game, but I have been on loan before and have always vowed that, whichever shirt I am pulling on, my loyalties have to be towards that club.

“That is the situation at Millwall. This is the club that has decided to give me the chance to be involved in the first team and I am thankful for that, so that is who I will be backing.”

Derry, 35, was signed as a squad player when Neil Warnock took him to QPR from Crystal Palace in 2010.

He ended up having a leading role in Rangers’ promotion to the Premier League – and is convinced they will be back in the top flight next term.

“Even this early in the season, it is QPR and one other for automatic promotion,” he said.

“They are strong and have an abundance of talent. But regardless of that, they have had a very settled defence most of the season.

“They have only made the odd change, for example Clint Hill coming inside from left-back to centre-back.

“Even when Harry Redknapp does that, they have Benoit Assou-Ekotto to come in, who Spurs originally bought for £3.5m.

“You only have to look at the players they brought in on deadline day – people of the level of Assou-Ekotto, Tom Carroll and Niko Kranjcar – who are full of ability.

“The club has different boundaries financially to most Championship sides. The depth of quality is on a different level to everyone else in the division.”

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