MICHAEL Harriman says today will feel like Christmas Eve for him as the excitement builds ahead of the new football season tomorrow.

The QPR defender is back on loan at Adams Park until January, two years after his first spell and he can’t wait to get stuck in.

He said: “As a player we have the same excitement as the fans about a new season. As such as you enjoy the time off in the summer you can’t wait to come back in.

"You get through the nitty gritty of pre-season with all the running and the hard work and then start really looking forward to that first game, and going out there and fighting for three points.

“It really does feel like Christmas Eve deep down. We are still big kids at heart who just want to be outside playing football.

“I just want to play football and when I realised I wasn’t going to play at QPR it was an easy choice to come back. I’ve worked with the manager before and as soon as I got a sniff that Wycombe wanted me I signed.

“Gareth Ainsworth gave me my first professional game and I will always be grateful for that."

The right-back added: "He taught me a lot when I was here and I’m looking forward to learning a lot more from him because he has learned as a manager and got better and better."

The arrival of the right back, who can also play centre midfield or right wing is something of a coup for Wanderers. Big spending League Two rivals Luton Town, where he played 39 games on loan last season, also wanted him but presumed he wouldn’t be available when he returned to parent club QPR and signed a new one-year deal.

Harriman said: “Hopefully I can get a good run here and then see where I am with QPR when I go back.

“We’ve got a good squad here and I am really looking forward to being part of it.