‘He plays with heart and soul’ – Cifuentes hails QPR matchwinner Dunne following Preston victory
Dunne headed in a late Ilias Chair cross to win the game against North End and help Rangers move seven points clear of the Championship relegation zone.
Having scored a crucial goal against Birmingham City towards the end of last season after Cifuentes moved him to right-back, Dunne has added three further strikes this term.
“Sometimes we look at football with cliches,” said the QPR boss. “The reality is I see a player that is good going forward, good at driving the ball forward. He plays with big heart and soul every game and he has the capacity to impact the last third.
“These kinds of players help us to be the core of the team. Him, Sam [Field], [Steve] Cook, Jake [Clarke-Salter]. The guys that know the league and know English football sustain the team’s performances.”
Dunne is out of contract at Loftus Road in the summer, and recently admitted he has not yet spoken to the club about extending his deal.
Cifuentes remained tight-lipped when asked if he wanted the Irishman to remain in W12 for the foreseeable future.
“I never speak about contracts,” he said. “It’s a question you can ask the CEO [Christian Nourry]. But the reality is that Jimmy is very important player for us and I really like Jimmy.”
Cifuentes added that he was unsure about the severity of the injury sustained by captain Steve Cook against Preston.
The QPR captain collapsed to the floor in the build-up to North End taking the lead at Loftus Road, and had to be helped off the pitch by physios.
Alfie Lloyd missed the game after suffering with illness while loanee Harrison Ashby was also absent after picking up a muscular injury during the week.