Oxford United v QPR team news with 6 outs and 6 doubts including U's ex Premier League man

QPR somewhat steadied a sinking ship last weekend with a point against relegation-threatened Cardiff City at Loftus Road.

Marti Cifuentes will be disappointed not to see his men get more from that meeting but two draws in their last three is an improvement on the run of four straight Championship defeats that preceded that.

At one point this season, it looked as if QPR could challenge for a play-off spot but it’s now a mission of avoiding a relegation battle. A trip to in-form Oxford United, who just beat Sheffield United, is not easy with the U’s just one point behind the London side. Here’s your team news.

Oxford United team news

Cameron Brannagan is playing with pain from a knee injury but is available for Oxford United, having featured last weekend. He told the Oxford Mail: “I just want to help as much as possible even when I’m going through a bit of pain with the knee. I’m a winner and I want to win everything I do, and the lads know that.

“I’ll do everything I can to help this team and this club. When I step over that white line, it means everything to me. I try and forget about it when I step over the white line because the only thing that matters is winning and that’s what I focus on. I don’t really try and think about anything else.

“I was obviously disappointed not to play against Middlesbrough, but I had to have a steroid just to try and ease the pain. I’ve had the steroid, and the pain has eased a little bit. Long may it continue. We’ve got six to go, and I’m looking forward to every single one of them.”

Elliot Moore will likely miss out against QPR with a hamstring injury and left-back Gregory Leigh is also injured and hasn’t played since February 15.

Max Woltman hasn’t made a single appearance this season. Matt Phillips - who once played for QPR in the Premier League - came off early against Middlesbrough with a groin problem and then missed out against Sheffield United so is a doubt.

Doubts - Elliot Moore, Gregory Leigh, Matt Phillips. Outs - Elliot Moore.

QPR team news

Marti Cifuentes is being handed a fresh injury concern ahead of every fixture at the moment. The latest is regarding young striker Alfie Lloyd, in a huge blow for the R’s.

The Catalan head coach has been short of firepower in recent weeks but was able to recall Lloyd back from injury to face Cardiff City last weekend. The striker had to be taken off after 54 minutes and is now a big doubt to face Oxford United. Cifuentes said: “That’s the reason Alfie didn’t start against Stoke – not because I didn’t want him to, but because he was coming [back] from a groin injury that has been there for a while.

“Today he gave us this energy that he’s got, his movement and his capacity to stretch in behind. Unfortunately he felt his groin once again. The doctor and the medical team will test him, but he was not very optimistic about the next game.”

QPR are also without Micahel Frey has a groin injury and the timeframe on that is not known, but to make a sudden comeback midweek seems unlikely. Rayan Kolli was due to return to first team training last week but could still be a way away from match fitness.

Summer signing Zan Celar remains a longer term absentee with the ever-influential Ilias Chair set to spend another three weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury picked up against Middlesbrough. Jake Clarke-Salter continues his rehab but is unlikely to return this season following hip surgery.

R’s captain Steve Cook has missed out against Stoke City and Cardiff City having picked up a knock in the draw with Leeds United before the international break. The centre-back was expected to return against Cardiff City but that was not the case.

A club statement last week read: “Steve Cook, who came off against Leeds before the international break, will need a period of offload to help manage an ongoing foot injury which was first sustained at the end of December. He is currently on course to rejoin team training next week in the build-up to our home fixture with Cardiff City.”

Meanwhile, January transfer signing Harvey Vale continues his rehab on a back injury having arrived from Chelsea but isn’t expected to feature this season. Koki Saito was sent off against Leeds United and will now serve the third match of his suspension.

Doubts - Steve Cook, Michael Frey, Alfie Lloyd, Rayan Kolli. Outs - Zan Celar, Ilias Chair, Jake Clarke-Salter, Harvey Vale, Koki Saito.

In other news, QPR are reported to have received a bid from Saudi Arabia for one of their rising stars.