Peter Ramage was reluctant to leave Newcastle United for Queens Park Rangers, fearing it was a step down from one of the Premier League's biggest clubs.

Now, though, the defender couldn't be happier as he looks back on a well-timed escape.

Ramage had been attached to St James' Park since he was 13 and found it painstakingly difficult to head south when his contract expired last year.

The 25-year-old was not only having to tear himself away from Premier League football, he was also leaving family and friends.

He said: "I found the move to London harder than I thought it would be. It was the first time in my life I'd ever had to do that.

"I missed my family and girlfriend, too, and that showed over the Christmas period when all the lads were going home to their families. I was going back to an empty flat, it was hard. And London is very different to Newcastle."

One year on from his transfer, Ramage's fortunes have transformed almost as rapidly as those of his previous club have fallen.

Ramage is now thriving at one of the richest clubs in the world with genuine hopes of pushing for top-flight football this season, while his beloved Newcastle are spinning into freefall following relegation, with managerial uncertainty and takeover problems.

"You could see the club was going down but there were also signs they were too good to go down," said Ramage as he reflected on Alan Shearer's failed attempt to save Newcastle from the drop into the Championship.

"I never hide the fact I am a Geordie, I always will be. I went to their last few games of the season and they were hard to watch."

Newcastle's demise does mean, though, that Ramage will return to St James' Park with QPR on 30 September for a Championship game.

He said: "I would have preferred it if they stayed up but they are down now and we look forward to facing them.

"It was always one thing that if I left them and could not go and play for them again, that I could play against them.

"I get the chance to do that now. My girlfriend is also moving down to live with me and I am enjoying myself and my football again, so I'm happy."

Now it needs to be proved that QPR can finally live up to expectations.

So far co-owners Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone have refused to plough huge sums of cash into the club but Ramage is confident the Hoops are set up for an encouraging future.

While Newcastle supporters were spending the past three months wondering whether Shearer would remain in charge and how many of last year's squad would stick with them, QPR were drawing up a new blueprint for the future.

The arrival of former Ipswich manager Jim Magilton and new signings Alejandro Faurlin and Alessandro Pellicori may not be the famous names Rangers fans would have expected when Briatore and Ecclestone initially took control.

And injured Faurlin will miss the opening day game at home to Blackpool. But Ramage has seen enough during pre-season to be convinced QPR are heading for success.

He said: "Pre-season has gone well and I just can't wait to get started. Akos Buzsaky, Martin Rowlands, Patrick Agyemang and Rowan Vine are back and we missed them for the majority of last season.

"Now the manager has competition for places, which will please him.

"The top six is our target. We set that last season and fell short but this year we have a very good manager and coach in place and we are going to try to produce to achieve it.

"We are all ready to go and I hope we can maintain the high tempo we have set during pre-season because we all believe this can be a good year at QPR."