QPR predicted £22m-rated starting XI vs QPR with calls made on Ilias Chair, Zan Celar and Hevertton

QPR return to Championship action this weekend.QPR return to Championship action this weekend.
QPR return to Championship action this weekend. | Getty Images
QPR welcome West Brom to Loftus Road for a lunchtime kick-off on Saturday.

The long wait for the return of Championship football is set to end this weekend as the second tier whirrs back into life. For QPR, it's the visit of West Brom to begin the new campaign.

The R's have recruited well under Marti Cifuentes so far this summer and supporters will be hopeful of avoiding the relegation dogfight drama of last season.

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LondonWorld looks at how QPR could line up to face the Baggies at Loftus Road on Saturday - market values as per Transfermarkt.

GK - Paul Nardi, £2.2m

Signed from Gent this summer to come into the role left vacant by Asmir Begovic. The former France under-21 international has experience in France and Belgium but is poised for his first taste of competitive football in the UK.

LB - Kenneth Paal, £2.4m

The full-back was influential last season and a reliable performer during the relegation battle. Paal has been linked with a transfer to Watford this summer as he enters the final 12 months of his contract but remains an R's player for now.

CB - Steve Cook, £515,000

A man mountain at times in defence last season as QPR fought for Championship survival. Cook is set to have a big part to play this season again, especially if Jake Clarke-Salter is snapped up in the window.

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CB - Jake Clarke-Salter, £1m

Wolves and Crystal Palace have been linked with a move for Clarke-Salter.Wolves and Crystal Palace have been linked with a move for Clarke-Salter.
Wolves and Crystal Palace have been linked with a move for Clarke-Salter. | Getty Images

The centre of much transfer talk this summer, the former Chelsea man is still a QPR player. Marti Cifuentes will no doubt avail himself of the 26-year-old's services while still possible and hope that he remains at Loftus Road despite talk of a £10 million exit.

RB - Jimmy Dunne, £2.2m

While Dunne can sometimes lack a certain dynamism in the full-back role, he makes up for that with enthusiastic performances. Has become a fan favourite at QPR and signed a new deal with the club in May.

CDM - Jack Colback, £260k

In and out of the side under Cifuentes last term, Colback could well lose a starting spot to Jonathan Varane once the new signing is bedded in. Saturday seems too soon to hand the arrival from Sporting de Gijon his first start with Colback as an experienced alternative.

CDM - Sam Field, £2.8m

Hugely influential from his deeper lying midfield role. Field bagged a brace against West Brom in March as he turned in an impressive end to the 2023/24 campaign.

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LW - Ilias Chair, £6m

Ilias Chair is a fitness worry for QPR.Ilias Chair is a fitness worry for QPR.
Ilias Chair is a fitness worry for QPR. | Getty Images

The spark in the QPR attack, the side's best moments tend to come through the Morocco international. He's been nursing a back injury in pre-season, so could miss out of the West Brom fixture, but Cifuentes will no doubt be desperate to play the forward.

CAM - Lucas Andersen, £430k

Hugely impressive at times for QPR last season having joined from Danish side AaB Aalborg in February. It'll be intriguing to see just how much he can continue to progress this term.

RW - Hevertton, £600k

The right wing role is perhaps the most up for grabs in the QPR starting XI this weekend. The London side still hasn't replaced Chris Willock following his departure as a free agent. Paul Smyth is the most natural option in the role but Cifuentes has talked openly about using new full-back signing Hevertton in the position too.

ST - Zan Celar, £4m

With Lyndon Dykes a doubt for Saturday, Cifuentes appears to have a choice between Michael Frey and new signing Zan Celar. The former only bagged one goal after arriving at Loftus Road in January last season whereas Celar netted 21 in all competitions for FC Lugano in Switzerland.

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