LONDON — Reggie Cannon quickly became familiar to the pressures of a European season during his time with Portuguese side Boavista and after making a first-ever move to England last September, the veteran fullback is ready for a larger role during the second half of the current campaign.
Cannon has made 13 appearances to date for EFL Championship side QPR, rotating in and out of the squad since being acquired five months ago. The 25-year-old was brought in by former manager Gareth Ainsworth last September, but now has worked under Marti Cifuentes following Ainsworth’s firing in October.
Despite enduring a managerial change and a seven-match winless run across all competitions, Cannon is confident in and QPR’s abilities going forward this winter.
“The Championship has been a really competitive level for me,” Cannon told SBI. “I think it’s right where I belong. It’s a very intense and serviceable league. It forces you to work on your physicality. QPR is a very historic club so when they called me, I was obviously very excited to have the opportunity. Being surrounded by these players too, my game is improving. It’s been a very positive experience so far and I hope for bigger things to come.
“It’s been a difficult string of matches that we’ve had, but I believe in our faith and determination as a squad to get out of the situation that we are in,” Cannon added. “I think we have too big of a squad to be where we are right now and I think fixing things will come one match at a time. As players we sometimes like to look farther ahead, but we just need to start with the next match vs. Watford and go from there. I am very confident in ourselves.”
After coming through the ranks at FC Dallas as a right back, Cannon has featured in multiple roles at both Boavista and QPR. The former MLS homegrown featured as a third centerback during his final season in Portugal before being shuffled into a wingback role at times this season.
Cannon’s flexibility has helped him register 838 minutes of playing time in England, while also starting in nine of his 13 appearances. The veteran defender credited his time at Boavista for helping him grow into the versatile player he is today.
“I think heading to Portugal was a great stepping stone for me in my career,” Cannon said. “I think I learned a lot while I was there and also learned to play a few different positions. I think I grew up as a player and learned how to play in Europe. I learned to match the intensity of some of the bigger clubs like Benfica, Porto, and Sporting Lisbon, which helped me become a better player and person.
“It’s definitely helped me to play new positions,” Cannon said. “I think the more you can offer the team, the better player you will be and although I can’t lie I live playing fullback, I think I can offer so much more in the final third. It just adds another dimension to my game and I think that will ultimately help the team too. I find myself wanting to improve more and more in all areas.”
Cifuentes took over as QPR manager in late-October, but has struggled to get the club out of the current funk they are in. The 41-year-old Spaniard, who previously managed Sandejford, Aalborg, and Hammarby, has only led QPR to three victories in his 13 matches in charge, while also suffering FA Cup elimination last weekend.
Despite QPR sitting 22nd in the 24-team Championship standings, Cannon has enjoyed working with Cifuentes and credited him for his continued growth on the field.
“He’s a very direct gaffer and very demanding as well,” Cannon said. “I appreciate his straightforwardness because he’s helped me develop areas of my game that maybe I’m not so comfortable with doing. Sometimes he has me as a third midfielder and even if I might not be comfortable with it, it’s going to help me in the long run. I really appreciate his insight and his determination to not only get the best out of us, but the best out of the club.
“Marti has helped me and pushed me to play that inverted fullback role, the same way that Gareth did as well,” Cannon added. “I’m learning and improving at my position and I think it has definitely challenged me as well. Changing coaches is part of football so I am happy to be here and I am following whoever is in charge.”
The EFL Championship season is already 26 matches into a 46-match slate, remaining one of the toughest overall schedules in Europe. QPR has three-straight home matches against Watford, Millwall, and Hudderfield Town, providing added opportunities to boost itself out of the relegation zone.
Cannon and his QPR teammates have already surpassed a tough holiday period which featured eight league matches in a 30-day period, but know the importance of focusing on one match at a time and not looking too far ahead.
“Coming to England and being in the Championship is just a different breed,” Cannon said. “It’s a more physical league, it’s a stricter schedule, and you just have to be prepared for what’s coming next. It’s been a large mashup of different types of wingers here, compared to what I saw in Portugall, but I have been enjoying it. You don’t really have time to get too high or too low because the next match is always coming up pretty fast. The more you play, the more you will improve too.”
2023 marked the first year since Cannon’s international debut that he did not feature for the USMNT, a theme he is hoping to change in the coming months. Gregg Berhalter’s squad will take part in the CONCACAF Nations League Final Four in March before also hosting the 2024 Copa America this summer.
In addition, the Americans will also travel to Paris, France in June for the Summer Olympics, a competition that Cannon could be feature in as one of three senior (23-years-old or older) players in the USMNT roster. A USMNT return is high on Cannon’s radar, but a strong second half of the season with QPR is taking his full priority over the next few months.
“Gregg came to see me after the Sheffield Wednesday match and we had a good conversation,” Cannon said. “We are looking towards the future. As long as I have good performances with QPR, there is no doubt that I will be back with the team, but right now QPR is my main focus. I want to return to the national team, but I know my club performances will dictate that.”
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