QPR boss' huge injury boost and 'false winger' revelation vs Watford - starting XIs confirmed

QPR manager Marti Cifuentes shared his excitement at the performance of forward Lyndon Dykes in last weekend's FA Cup action ahead of Sunday's all-London Championship meeting with Watford.

The Spaniard was determined to take the positives from the cup defeat to Bournemouth, which saw his side throw away a 2-0 lead after halftime against the Premier League outfit. Set pieces once again proved the side's undoing but there were signs of promise from the Hoops.

One of those was seeing Dykes, along with Sinclair Armstrong, on the scoresheet at Loftus Road. In his programme notes ahead of Watford, Cifuentes said: "For me, it's important to take the positives from that FA Cup game, because there were many. Perhaps the main one was that we showed (once again) we can compete against good teams. We should not forget that Bournemouth are not only a Premier League side but, in the last couple of months, with the way they've been playing and the results they've been getting, one of the best Premier League sides!

"It was good to see both Sinclair Armstrong and Lyndon Dykes score, which benefits their confidence and that of the team - and also particularly pleasing because the goals came from some moves we have been working on during the week. Playing Lyndon as a false winger, so to speak, worked well - he understood the role, opening space for the opposite movements by Sinclair and it was effective, especially during the first half."

Armstrong excelled in a central role against the Cherries, with Dykes providing support on the left flank and Paul Smyth playing down the right. Armstrong, who has been a bit-part player for large parts of the campaign, earned plaudits for his determined and physical battle against the top flight defence.

Previewing the meeting with 13th-placed Watford, Cifuentes also shared that he expected 'good news' in relation to the injuries of Jack Colback and Chris Willock, with both 'looking strong' in training. Meanwhile, Ilias Chair is 'improving every day'. The home side are boosted with all three in the starting line-up today.

QPR XI vs Watford - Asmir Begovic, Jimmy Dunne, Jack Colback, Jack Clarke-Salter, Chris Willock, Sam Field, Lyndon Dykes, Ilias Chair, Reggie Cannon, Kenneth Paal, Sinclair Armstrong

QPR bench - Matteo Salamon, Steve Cook, Paul Smyth, Morgan Fox, Andre Dozzell, Elijah Dixon-Bonner, Ziyad Larkeche, Aaron Dewe, Albert Adomah

Watford XI vs QPR - Ben Hamer, Francisco Sierralta, Wesley Hoedt, Jake Livermore, Rhys Healey, Giorgi Chakvetadze, Yaser Asprilla, Tom Dele-Bashiru, Matheus Martins, James Morris, Ryan Andrews

Watford bench - Daniel Bachmann, Ryan Porteous, Tom Ince, Mileta Rajovic, Ismael Kone, Mattie Pollock, Jorge Hurtado, Aidan Coyne, Jack Grieves