QPR could face new-look Portsmouth XI while Leeds United consider free transfer for World Cup winner

QPR and Millwall return to Championship action this weekend, along with the rest of the league as the international break comes to an end.

Points are the priority for Marti Cifuentes and the R's as the club sits in the relegation zone and supporters will hope the two-week break afforded the team a chance to find some consistency.

QPR feature alongside Watford and Leeds United in your Friday Championship round-up.

QPR could face new-look Portsmouth XI

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho won't be afraid to change his starting XI against QPR this weekend in what he has referred to as a 'must-win' match at Loftus Road.

Even at this early stage of the season, the fixture in West London on Saturday could be viewed as an early relegation clash. The R's sit 22nd in the Championship, two points above Pompey in 23rd.

Portsmouth are the only team in the second tier yet to win a league match this season. Speaking ahead of the weekend, Mousinho commented on the form of veteran midfielder Marlon Pack and admitted that every starting role was 'up for grabs' against QPR.

He said: "‘If we look across the board at some of the performances we’ve had, we’ve had some excellent performances from the side and Marlon - and somewhere, by Marlon’s own admission, he’s not been quite at it.

"I don’t think he’s the only one at all, though. I spoke to Marlon after the Stoke game and his take was you could have changed any 11 of the players. He will always be honest about that, but Marlon gives us a huge amount in the middle of the park. There’s a lot you don’t necessarily see and fans don’t necessarily see, with the leadership he brings.

"Again it’s a really interesting point of view because any position on the pitch is always up for grabs, and that (midfield) is no different. Marlon has done a huge amount for this football club and captained the side to winning the league last season. I think he’s done plenty to justify his position in the team this season too, but we are always looking at that with Marlon and the sixes to make sure we’re on top of that."

Watford send Luton Town message

Watford head coach Tom Cleverley is not taking anything for granted ahead of this weekend's meeting with Luton Town in the Championship.

The Hornets have been in fine form so far this season and sit sixth in the table. That's not been the case at Kenilworth Road following relegation, with Rob Edwards' men 21st with just two wins to their name.

However, Cleverley is aware of the threat posed by the recent Premier League side. He said: "What Luton have done doesn’t concern me much, and I think form goes out of the window in derby games. It’s a unique game and one where we won’t focus on current form.

"Yes, I prefer my team to be going into the game with confidence than lacking it, but it’s not been part of our preparation to focus on their results. Rob is someone I have a lot of respect for, though I do want to inflict more pain upon them on Saturday afternoon. "But he is also someone I really respect."

Leeds United eye free agent

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has made no secret of the club's activity in the free agent market and a potential target has now emerged in Christoph Kramer. The 33-year-old is said to be training at Thorp Arch, according to a report by the Yorkshire Evening Post.

The Whites have been linked with a number of names, including former Nottingham Forest man Cheikhou Kouyaté. Kramer is another, with the player having worked with Farke during the 2022/23 campaign at Monchengladbach.

The midfielder won the World Cup with Germany in 2014 but any official move to Elland Road will depend on fitness levels with the player without a club since leaving Monchengladbach in August.