The former Manchester United and Barcelona striker signed Nelsen for the second time – having earlier brought him to England from the American MLS when in charge of Blackburn Rovers – in the off season and handed the centre back a debut in QPR’s 3-0 League Cup win over Walsall on Tuesday night.
Nelsen must have been wondering if he was still rated by Hughes after being left out of the club’s first two Premier League matches but any such concerns would have been banished by the boss’s post-match comments.
“I think you saw why I brought Ryan to the club,” Hughes said.
“He was excellent and it was a really good, powerful performance. I know what I am going to get from Ryan, not just interms of his ability but his mentality and the way he goes about his business on a daily basis,” he continued.
“I’ve worked with him very closely for a number of years and he’s one of the best professionals I’ve ever been involved with.”
Nelsen, who had a short stint in the first half of this year at QPR’s London rivals Tottenham Hotspur after leaving Blackburn mid-season, put in a 90-minute shift for his new team as goals from Shaun Wright-Phillips, Bobby Zamora and Jose Bosingwa secured a safe passage to the third round.
The 34-year-old left the field bloodied before half-time after suffering a knock to the face but returned to see out the match.
Nelsen will hope to have done enough to retain his place in the starting line-up for QPR’s next game, a daunting trip to champions Manchester City in the Premier League this weekend.

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