Chris Barker is relishing the prospect of playing for the R's without the hassle of daily treatment and tablets.

The full back, who joined from Cardiff City on a free transfer in the summer, only underwent a hernia operation on Wednesday morning but is expected to be fit for Rangers' Championship clash against Ipswich Town on Saturday week.

The 27 year-old flew out to Germany in order to have the surgery conducted by Ulrika Muschaweck, who recently treated England striker Michael Owen with a similar injury.

"From start to finish, it was all done in less than two hours," Barker told www.qpr.co.uk.

"Being able to have the operation done by one of the world's best is good for me and good for the Club, too.

"I'm hopeful of being available for Ipswich because I've been told that I should be able to resume full training as early as next Wednesday."

The hard-working defender has been playing on with the injury for a few weeks, and is now pleased to have had the opportunity to get the problem seen to.

"It started about a month ago," he admitted, "but I kept training and playing matches. I was having treatment twice a day, as well as taking tablets.

"In yourself, you know you're not 100 per-cent, but hopefully now that's over and done with.

"It's only natural that it's at the back of your mind, because you know that you need to get it sorted. Now it has, and I just want to get back to my best - starting with Ipswich."