LONDON — Reggie Cannon shortly grew to become acquainted to the pressures of a European season throughout his time with Portuguese aspect Boavista and after making a first-ever transfer to England final September, the veteran fullback is prepared for a bigger function throughout the second half of the present marketing campaign.
Cannon has made 13 appearances so far for EFL Championship aspect QPR, rotating out and in of the squad since being acquired 5 months in the past. The 25-year-old was introduced in by former supervisor Gareth Ainsworth final September, however now has labored underneath Marti Cifuentes following Ainsworth’s firing in October.
Regardless of enduring a managerial change and a seven-match winless run throughout all competitions, Cannon is assured in and QPR’s skills going ahead this winter.
“The Championship has been a very aggressive stage for me,” Cannon instructed SBI. “I believe it’s proper the place I belong. It’s a really intense and serviceable league. It forces you to work in your physicality. QPR is a really historic membership so once they known as me, I used to be clearly very excited to have the chance. Being surrounded by these gamers too, my sport is enhancing. It’s been a really constructive expertise thus far and I hope for greater issues to come back.
“It’s been a troublesome string of matches that we’ve had, however I imagine in our religion and willpower as a squad to get out of the state of affairs that we’re in,” Cannon added. “I believe we’ve too large of a squad to be the place we’re proper now and I believe fixing issues will come one match at a time. As gamers we typically wish to look farther forward, however we simply want to start out with the subsequent match vs. Watford and go from there. I’m very assured in ourselves.”
After coming by way of the ranks at FC Dallas for granted again, Cannon has featured in a number of roles at each Boavista and QPR. The previous MLS homegrown featured as a 3rd centerback throughout his closing season in Portugal earlier than being shuffled right into a wingback function at occasions this season.
Cannon’s flexibility has helped him register 838 minutes of enjoying time in England, whereas additionally beginning in 9 of his 13 appearances. The veteran defender credited his time at Boavista for serving to him develop into the versatile participant he’s right now.
“I believe heading to Portugal was a fantastic stepping stone for me in my profession,” Cannon mentioned. “I believe I discovered so much whereas I used to be there and likewise discovered to play just a few totally different positions. I believe I grew up as a participant and discovered play in Europe. I discovered to match the depth of among the greater golf equipment like Benfica, Porto, and Sporting Lisbon, which helped me grow to be a greater participant and particular person.
“It’s undoubtedly helped me to play new positions,” Cannon mentioned. “I believe the extra you’ll be able to provide the group, the higher participant you can be and though I can’t lie I reside enjoying fullback, I believe I can provide a lot extra within the closing third. It simply provides one other dimension to my sport and I believe that can finally assist the group too. I discover myself wanting to enhance an increasing number of in all areas.”
Cifuentes took over as QPR supervisor in late-October, however has struggled to get the membership out of the present funk they’re in. The 41-year-old Spaniard, who beforehand managed Sandejford, Aalborg, and Hammarby, has solely led QPR to a few victories in his 13 matches in cost, whereas additionally struggling FA Cup elimination final weekend.
Regardless of QPR sitting twenty second within the 24-team Championship standings, Cannon has loved working with Cifuentes and credited him for his continued development on the sector.
“He’s a really direct gaffer and really demanding as nicely,” Cannon mentioned. “I respect his straightforwardness as a result of he’s helped me develop areas of my sport that possibly I’m not so snug with doing. Generally he has me as a 3rd midfielder and even when I may not be snug with it, it’s going to assist me in the long term. I actually respect his perception and his willpower to not solely get the most effective out of us, however the most effective out of the membership.
“Marti has helped me and pushed me to play that inverted fullback function, the identical method that Gareth did as nicely,” Cannon added. “I’m studying and enhancing at my place and I believe it has undoubtedly challenged me as nicely. Altering coaches is a part of soccer so I’m comfortable to be right here and I’m following whoever is in cost.”
The EFL Championship season is already 26 matches right into a 46-match slate, remaining one of many hardest total schedules in Europe. QPR has three-straight residence matches towards Watford, Millwall, and Hudderfield City, offering added alternatives to spice up itself out of the relegation zone.
Cannon and his QPR teammates have already surpassed a troublesome vacation interval which featured eight league matches in a 30-day interval, however know the significance of specializing in one match at a time and never wanting too far forward.
“Coming to England and being within the Championship is only a totally different breed,” Cannon mentioned. “It’s a extra bodily league, it’s a stricter schedule, and also you simply need to be ready for what’s coming subsequent. It’s been a big mashup of several types of wingers right here, in comparison with what I noticed in Portugall, however I’ve been having fun with it. You don’t actually have time to get too excessive or too low as a result of the subsequent match is all the time developing fairly quick. The extra you play, the extra you’ll enhance too.”
2023 marked the primary 12 months since Cannon’s worldwide debut that he didn’t characteristic for the USMNT, a theme he’s hoping to vary within the coming months. Gregg Berhalter’s squad will participate within the CONCACAF Nations League Ultimate 4 in March earlier than additionally internet hosting the 2024 Copa America this summer season.
As well as, the People may even journey to Paris, France in June for the Summer time Olympics, a contest that Cannon may very well be characteristic in as certainly one of three senior (23-years-old or older) gamers within the USMNT roster. A USMNT return is excessive on Cannon’s radar, however a robust second half of the season with QPR is taking his full precedence over the subsequent few months.
“Gregg got here to see me after the Sheffield Wednesday match and we had dialog,” Cannon mentioned. “We’re wanting in direction of the long run. So long as I’ve good performances with QPR, there is no such thing as a doubt that I might be again with the group, however proper now QPR is my principal focus. I need to return to the nationwide group, however I do know my membership performances will dictate that.”