Harry Redknapp has conceded that his five-month stint away from football has benefited him.

The 65-year-old returned to management over the weekend with Queens Park Rangers in what is his first job since he parted company with Tottenham Hotspur in June of this year.

"It's been okay," said Redknapp when asked about his break. "I think I maybe needed it and it didn't do me any harm. I went through a tough year last year so maybe it wasn't the worst thing that could have happened to me."

Redknapp also revealed that he had stayed away from the English top flight during his sabbatical.

"I haven't seen a Premier League game since I finished at Tottenham. People would have said 'what's he doing here?' or thought I was after their job - I didn't need that," he added. "I used to poodle along and watch Bournemouth play on a Saturday afternoon and loved it.

"Watching lower division games and going down and having a cup of tea with managers like John Still at Dagenham - a bit of reality and some fantastic lads. I enjoyed it but now I'm looking forward to getting back into the Premier League."

QPR are the sixth club that Redknapp has managed.