QPR injury blow to 'one of league's best players' ahead of Leeds United and Stoke City

QPR risk being without key man Ilias Chair for upcoming Championship fixtures against Leeds United and Stoke City after the winger limped off in the 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough on Tuesday night.

The 27-year-old came off after 55 minutes at the Riverside Stadium with the R’s 1-0 down against Michael Carrick’s side. QPR conceded a second just minutes later before Steve Cook pulled one back with 10 minutes left to play.

When fit, Chair is an ever-present in Marti Cifuentes’ QPR team. The wide man struggled for fitness over the first half of the campaign with a back and knee injury but slowly began to find his form in December when returning.

QPR handed fresh injury blow

Since then, Chair has registered two goals and six assists for QPR. Speaking to the club website after the Boro defeat, Cifuentes said: “We need to make tests. Let’s wait until we do some scans and see what it is.”

Reacting to the defeat, which is the fourth consecutive league loss for QPR, Cifuentes added: “We're frustrated because of the final result. We are angry. We played against a good team, they're brilliant at breaking lines and accelerating, but I think it was a game with good spells for both teams, good moments for both teams.

“I'm disappointed about the way we conceded, especially the second goal. It's usually a game of taking your chances – we didn’t and they did.

“This is a very honest group. We kept pushing and the reality is that this group never gives up. We are all angry with the result but I cannot be angry with this team, they are trying everything. With the amount of adversity they are facing, it is very difficult.”

Leeds United and Stoke City up next for Marti Cifuentes

QPR have just days to prepare for a tricky encounter with Leeds United at Loftus Road on Saturday lunchtime. Daniel Farke’s side have slipped from top spot in the Championship but could return to the summit with a win over Millwall on Wednesday night ahead of taking on QPR.

Cifuentes and his squad then make the trip to Stoke City after the international break on March 29. The hope will be that any Chair injury is not serious enough to keep him out that long but hamstring problems can vary in severity.

Praising Chair after he bagged a brace in the 4-0 win over Derby County in February, Cifuentes said: “I think Ilias is one of the best players in the league.

“I’m pleased that today he scored the two goals – he’s a bit angry with me because he wanted the hat-trick and I subbed him. He’s a fantastic player and it’s sad that we missed him for such a long time in the beginning of the season. Happy that he’s back and happy that he’s doing well. And it’s not only him – all the players are performing at a really high level.”

In other news, this is why Tottenham Hotspur loanee Yang Min-hyeok is tipped to be a ‘generational talent’ as he spends time on loan at Loftus Road.