Greg Cunningham was ‘adamant’ he wanted to try and run off what would turn out to be a season-ending injury at QPR last month, only to soon realise something was awry.

Cunningham revealed he felt a ‘crunchy feeling’ in the back of his knee that would later turn out to be ligament damage that signalled the end of his season.

The 28-year-old said the scan results in the days following the Loftus Road defeat came as something of a shock having initially tried to play on following the original collision for which he received treatment.

Cunningham is in to the early throws of his rehabilitation, after undergoing surgery in London last month, which will take place at Rovers following consultation with parent club Cardiff City.

Despite making just eight appearances since arriving on deadline day, the loanee’s positivity made a big impression at Brockhall where he will see out the remainder of the season-long loan he agreed in August.

And Cunningham has now opened up on the moment the injury happened in the early stages of Rovers’ 4-2 defeat at QPR and how he wanted to try and continue.

“I felt the contact and felt a crunchy feeling in the back of my knee at Queens Park Rangers, but I felt things would settle down,” he said.

“The physio was adamant at the time that I’d have to come off, but I was determined and just told him to give me a few minutes to see if it wears off.

“That’s just my nature. I wanted to give it a try, I jogged around for a bit and it didn’t seem to be settling down.

“But then the ball dropped and when I tried to turn it felt a little unstable, so it was at that point when I sensed there was something wrong.

“I didn’t think it was that bad at the time, so it was a bit of a shock when the scan results came back to give me the news.

“That’s football sometimes. It’s unlucky but you have to deal with it and move on.”

The injury came at the worst possible time for Cunningham who was just days away from meeting up with the Republic of Ireland squad after being recalled to the national fold following some excellent form on the left side of Rovers’ defence.

He was hoping to put a stop-start 2018/19 campaign behind him with Cardiff City, where he made just seven Premier League appearances after signing from Preston North End, with a full season of regular football under his belt at Rovers after agreeing a year-long switch in the dying embers of the summer transfer window.

And despite the setback, Cunningham said: “I’m not doing so bad and I’m just over two weeks post-operation now.

“I’m back around the boys and it’s just about cracking on with the rehabilitation now.

“It takes a bit of time to get your head around the injury, but I’ve been in great hands with the medics both here and at Cardiff, alongside the surgeon in London, and everything went perfectly.”

With Cunningham’s season over, he is already focusing his attentions on the 2019/20 campaign, wherever that may be, with still a year left to run on his contact at the Cardiff City Stadium.

But the full back is grateful for the support and well-wishes he’s received and focused on making the most of a difficult time.

“Years ago it would be a career-ending injury, but in the modern day it’s a nine month spell on the sidelines,” he added.

“I’m in the best possible hands here and we have the best of the best, so I know I’ll come back flying and fit ready for next season.

“Injuries are part and parcel of being footballers. For the first few days you’re feeling sorry for yourself, but in sport you can’t feel like that for long, whether it’s a lost game, a bad performance or a bad injury.

“Moping around isn’t going to do things any good, so the sooner you can get over it and get cracking then the better it is.

“That’s the way it’s been. I’ve had unbelievable support from my missus, my friends, family and both clubs.

“It’s been pleasing on that front, so now is about knuckling down and making the best of the situation.”