QPR vs Sunderland team news with 8 doubts and 3 outs as R's teeter on injury crisis

QPR continue to look for a first league win since August but Marti Cifuentes will have his work cut out overcoming an in-form Sunderland side at Loftus Road this weekend.

The Black Cats have enjoyed a storming start to the season and sit five points clear at the top of the second tier. The London outfit aren't helped by injuries to several first team stars either.

Here's your QPR vs Sunderland team news.

QPR team news

QPR have an ever-growing list of injury worries which is not helping Cifuentes in his quest for form after a difficult start to the season. Defender Morgan Fox and Kader Dembele are both doubts for the meeting with Sunderland having missed out against Burnley last time out.

Full-back Kenneth Paal was also absent having picked up a problem in the opening minutes against Coventry City and striker Michael Frey continues to nurse a calf niggle.

Speaking to the QPR website, Cifuentes said: “We knew that Michi Frey and Ken Paal would be out of this game but yesterday in training Morgan Fox and Kader Dembélé both felt something. The assessment was that we expected them both to be ready for this game but this morning we did some more tests and they were not ready.

"It was a difficult situation because usually we travel with 22 players – 19 outfield and three goalkeepers – just in case something happens with an outfield player or a keeper. In the end, we had to use the extra keeper as well on the bench because we could not get anyone up from London in time for the game. Sometimes adversity happens like this and you must overcome it.”

QPR will also be without former Black Cats man Jack Colback. The 35-year-old has undergone surgery on a knee problem and will need 'a few weeks', which could point to a November return.

Cifuentes said: “Jack Colback has unfortunately had to have small surgery on his knee. Against Sheffield Wednesday he got [what seemed] a minor injury but, in the end, conservative treatment was not enough. It will take some weeks for him to recover.”

Liam Morrison is a longer term absentee with a knee injury while Rayan Kolli is a doubt, having not been in the Championship squad since August.

Sunderland team news

Régis Le Bris was handed a double injury boost in a public training session this week with Eliezer Mayenda and Wilson Isidor seen taking part. The former has been sidelined with a muscle injury and the latter limped off early against Oxford United last time out.

Both are slight doubts for the visit to QPR but could feature on Saturday. Defender Chris Mepham was also seen in full training having come off early against Oxford United.

Anthony Patterson was not part of training as a minor injury continues to keep him in the treatment room. Forward Dan Ballard, who has an ankle injury, was also absent but the Sunderland Echo believes he is still in contention to be in the matchday squad this weekend.