Richard Dunne wants to carry on

Former Republic of Ireland stalwart Richard Dunne is set to shelve plans to retire at the end of the season.

Dunne, 35, had hinted that this season at QPR could be his last.

But he is relishing his run in the side — making 17 Premier League appearances — although what the future holds depends on if he is offered a new deal at Loftus Road.

Dunne, who won 80 caps for Ireland, said: “I’d love to keep going.

“But I’ve no contract waiting, and we’ll have to wait and see what the situation is with the club. We don’t want to think about going down, so I’m not thinking it would be easier for me in the Championship.”

And if this is to be Dunne’s last season he certainly doesn’t want to mark it with being relegated from the top-flight.

But he admits that Rangers’ plight will continue to look serious unless they can cut out the individual errors that cost them dear in last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at Stoke City — their 11th successive away defeat of the season.

Dunne added: “The three goals were absolutely ridiculous.

“We need to make a draw somehow, and concentrate more on defending.

“It’s not the same people making individual mistakes.

“It’s different people, and it’s simple things we don’t do that’s costing us.”

QPR face a stern test against Southampton at Loftus Road tomorrow and Dunne said: “They’re probably the team of the season so far.

“Everybody’s expectations in August were they were going to struggle, but they’ve been far from that — and they don’t show any signs of slowing down.”