The enigmatic Taarabt, who played under Redknapp at Tottenham, has had his fair share of problems since his arrival in England, but will be a pivotal figure as the R's bid to avoid relegation to the Championship.
Having been reunited with Redknapp last month, the Moroccan insists his bad boy days are behind him, and he is focused on the task at hand.
"Every time you come back for a new season, it's a new start," he told The Sun.
"When I came back this time, the club gave me a new contract and a new beginning. I wanted to fight and show everybody that I'm ready.
"When I was very young I made some mistakes but that is normal. Now I'm growing up and my game has changed."
Despite only appearing as a substitute under Redknapp before he was shipped off to QPR, Taarabt insists he bears no grudges, and was delighted to be reunited with his former boss.
"I don't have a problem with Harry," he added. "Even when he wasn't here as manager, I was in touch with him.
"People forget that when I was at Tottenham I was only 17 and I had players in front of me like Luka Modric and Rafa van der Vaart who are top players.
"We get on, so he'd call and say 'Congratulations, I'm proud of you'. So it was great to see him walk through the door here.
"Now we're back together and it's a good chance for me. I have to do my best and the manager will make his choice. I respect that."
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