By Barney Cullum

Adel Taarabt has pledged his international future to Morocco

Adel Taarabt says a craving for first-team football helped him decide to play for Morocco and join QPR on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

The 19-year-old midfielder has pledged his international future to Morocco over France, whom he played for at junior level.

He is in Morocco's squad for Saturday's 2010 World Cup qualifier against Gabon.

"My reasons for saying yes to both Morocco and QPR were I needed to play competitive football again," he said.

"I think I feel more Moroccan than French in my heart also and I play the Moroccan way, with lots of skills, dribbling and action.

"Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o could have played for France but they have had amazing careers with their African sides."

Taarabt made his debut for the Atlas Lions in a friendly with the Czech Republic last month.

"The invitation to play against the Czech Republic came at a time when I had been playing very few games for my club for a long time and the thought of playing 90 minutes in a full stadium again excited me" he said.

"I had always thought I would play for France one day but after hearing from Roger Lemerre the more I thought about it the more I thought I wanted to play for Morocco."

Taraabt, who moved from the Moroccan city of Fez to France when he was just nine months old, represented his adopted country at Under-17, Under-18 and Under-19 level and had been tipped for senior caps too.

Since leaving French club RC Lens two years ago Taraabt has played just 17 games for Tottenham in the English Premier League.

He dropped down a division earlier this month to join city rivals QPR on loan until the end of the season.

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