QPR v Leeds United team news with 4 doubts and 7 outs as Daniel Farke handed fresh concern

A 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough on Tuesday night has made it four Championship defeats in a row for QPR ahead of the visit of top of the table Leeds United this weekend.

The R’s had started 2025 as the division’s in-form team but that rampant form has been lost with losses to Portsmouth, Sheffield United, West Brom and Boro in recent weeks. That has left the side in 14th place, 12 points off the play-offs and nine points above the drop zone.

Marti Cifuentes needs to see a response from his players but the Yorkshire outfit are charging for automatic promotion and come to London with the bit between their teeth. Here’s your QPR v Leeds United team news.

QPR team news

It looks to be a fresh injury blow ahead of every new fixture for QPR at the moment. The ever-influential Ilias Chair hobbled off after 55 minutes against Middlesbrough with what looked to be a hamstring injury and is a doubt to face Leeds United.

Chair, who has two goals and six assists for the R’s since his return to fitness, has been plagued with injuries this term. Speaking after the Boro defeat, Cifuentes said: “We need to make tests. Let’s wait until we do some scans and see what it is.”

Michael Frey returned from his ‘minor injury’ but there was no Jonathan Varane in the matchday squad in the North East. The midfielder has now missed back-to-back games with injury.

Earlier this month, it was confirmed that midfield linchpin Sam Field might not play again this season. A statement on the club website confirmed: “Unfortunately, Sam Field sustained an ankle injury following a tackle in our fixture at Portsmouth on February 22nd. The midfielder will now start a rehabilitation process with a projected return to full fitness in 6-9 weeks.”

Striker Rayan Kolli has enjoyed a breakthrough season but hasn’t featured in the squad since the 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers last month. The 20-year-old is set to rejoin full training with the squad in the middle of March which points to a comeback soon, but Leeds United is likely to come too early.

Zan Celar and Jake Clarke-Salter remain sidelined with longer term problems. Celar is said to be ‘progressing well’ but no comeback date was issued with Clarke-Salter making ‘early progress’ following hip surgery in January.

Meanwhile, January transfer signing Harvey Vale continues his rehab on a back injury having arrived from Chelsea but isn’t expected to feature this season.

Doubt - Jonathan Varane, Ilias Chair. Outs - Sam Field, Rayan Kolli, Zan Celar, Jake Clarke-Salter, Harvey Vale.

Leeds United team news

Joe Rothwell came off early in the midweek clash against Millwall and the Bournemouth loanee will be assessed ahead of QPR. The midfielder has had some issues with the knees but that is thought to be minor.

Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford was ‘part-integrated’ back into team training last week having injured him hamstring on New Year’s Day, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post. Daniel Farke, however, has said it will be a while before the talisman returns to full fitness but an expected return date is not yet known.

Captain Etham Ampadu isn’t expected back before the international break due to a knee injury and could yet miss the rest of the season if surgery is needed. Max Wober is expected to return after the break so will miss out against Millwall. Speaking in his press conference, Farke said: “One or two knocks and bruises but nothing to be overly concerned about, it will be more or less the same squad.”

Doubts - Joe Rothwell, Patrick Bamford. Outs - Ethan Ampadu, Max Wober.