Zesh Rehman admits that getting axed by City was hard to swallow.

The club captain is no stranger to managerial ins-and-outs after playing under seven different bosses in two eventful years at QPR.

And he has drawn on past experience to cope with the blow of finding himself out of Peter Taylor’s plans.

Rehman, who has played right back in the last two games, said: “I’m used to seeing management change and I’ve had it before when I’ve been a regular in the side and then found myself out of the picture.

“The manager is in charge and it’s his job to make decisions and you respect that. But it’s not nice being out the side and it left a bad taste in the mouth.

“The key thing is to remain professional and give your full support to everyone who is playing.

“I’d like to think I did that and then you expect the same when you get your chance again.”

As one of the few players still in contract this summer, Rehman is in the minority in the dressing room. But he has been in the game long enough to take nothing for granted.

He said: “In football you are on trial every week. So I will be giving 110 per cent every chance I get, even though I’ve got another year left.

“There are a lot of players out of contract who are not going to get another club. I’ve learned in my time there are no guarantees for anyone.”

Rehman’s recall against Notts County last week was his first appearance in a month since Taylor’s first game in charge at Accrington.

Rehman and Matt Clarke are the only two survivors from last year’s 4-1 mauling at Bournemouth – a dismal night best remembered for Stuart McCall’s public threat to quit immediately after the match.

Rehman insists that result is water under the bridge ahead of Saturday’s Dean Court return trip.

He said: “It’s a different season now and a different team. You’ve got to dwell on the here and now and not concern yourself about what’s happened in the past.

“Bournemouth are flying high and have had a really good season. I think Eddie Howe has done a brilliant job, especially given the situation they have been in off the pitch.

“He deserves a lot of credit for that and they will be very confident but our away record is decent as well.

“We’ve shown by winning at Rochdale, Rotherham and Shrewsbury earlier in the season that we can go to good sides and get results, so I’m sure we can give them problems.”

Rehman added: “I would love to stay unbeaten for the last eight games. We want to win as many games as possible and finish as high as we can.

“I know there will be negative people saying that can’t happen but I believe we are heading in the right direction.

“The gaffer has not been here long enough to judge him on the results we’ve had so far. But you’ve definitely seen an improvement in our performances in a short space of time and the hard work he is putting into the team is paying off.”