QPR get double injury boost for Millwall including attacker 'obsessed' with Premier League promotion

QPR are set to have the influential attacking duo of Ilias Chair and Kwame Poku available for the visit of Millwall on Saturday in a significant boost for the hosts.

The R’s are one of the Championship’s in-form teams having now stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches. Many of those victories have come without Chair and Poku in the matchday squad.

Both wingers have been out with hamstring injuries but have used the international break to return to full training and are expected to be ready to be named in the matchday squad against the Lions.

QPR handed double injury boost ahead of Millwall

Poku was one of QPR’s marquee summer signings, arriving from Peterborough United for a reported £900,000. The 24-year-old was in high demand having plundered 12 goals and eight assists in League One last season.

Poku started the opening fixture of the Championship season against Preston North End but lasted just 67 minutes and has not been seen since. Meanwhile, Chair has been absent ever since the second outing of the campaign, against Watford.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, via West London Sport, QPR boss Julian Stephan said: “They [Chair and Poku] are available but available doesn’t [necessarily] mean they are ready to play, so we need to see what is best for the player – for this game and the other game next week – but they did a full session today.”

Even if fit, it remains to be seen whether Chair and Poku would immediately reclaim a place in the starting XI given QPR’s recent form. Koki Saito, Karomoko Dembele and Harvey Vale have all impressed out wide.

Ilias Chair’s Premier league ambitions

The return of Chair is particularly important for QPR. The 27-year-old has now made 267 appearances for the club and is regularly the most creative player on the pitch.

Chair has two goals and four assists against Millwall in his career, having faced the London rivals 10 times with QPR. In the summer, the forward had admitted that he is ‘obsessed’ with getting to the Premier League and believes that he can do that at Loftus Road.

He said: "I'm a bit obsessed with getting to the Premier League at this point. Hopefully that can be with QPR. I've really got a good feeling that I can do that with QPR. This project is a very promising project. On a personal level, yes, the Premier League is 100% a dream of mine and I tend to never let go of my dreams, so we'll see what happens."

QPR welcome Millwall to Loftus Road in an earlier 12:30 pm kick off on Saturday. The two sides drew 1-1 at QPR last season with the Lions winning 2-1 in the reverse fixture at The Den.

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