West Brom and Birmingham City boost as Julien Stephan confirms fresh QPR injury

QPR saw a three match unbeaten run end with a 3-1 defeat at Norwich City last weekend, handing the Canaries a first home win of the season as Julien Stephan’s topsy-turvy start to life at Loftus Road continues.

The R’s sit 13th in the second tier ahead of a meeting with West Brom at Loftus Road on Saturday. The Baggies are just one place above the London outfit and level on points.

Stephan started the season with a long list of injury problems to manage at QPR but recent weeks had seen the squad return to fitness and hand the head coach somewhat of a selection dilemma. However, ahead of the busy festive period, the R’s boss is now managing fresh fitness concerns.

QPR injury blow ahead of West Brom and Birmingham City

Sam Field has been in and out of the starting XI so far this term, having made 35 Championship appearances last season. Since late October, the 27-year-old has been deployed as a left-back when needed in a more unconventional role.

Field was once again deployed in that position against Norwich City and picked up an assist for Rumarn Burrell’s equaliser in the 11th minute. However, the player was then substituted at half-time with what was thought to be a groin problem.

Speaking to West London Sport in his pre-match press conference, Stephan has now elaborated on that problem and confirmed that Field will miss out against West Brom this weekend and against Birmingham City next week, in a potential boost for the opponents.

He said: “Sam Field will be back probably in 10 days or two weeks. It’s a little injury and that’s good news, because I thought at the end of the first half it was a worse injury, but it’s not the case.”

Ben Hamer and Rayan Kolli injury update

It’s the first time that Field has been unavailable with an injury this season and could see QPR recall Esquerdinha to the squad. The Brazilian 19-year-old has been absent in recent weeks but could make a return to training later this week.

Stephan will also be without goalkeeper Ben Hamer as the shot-stopper continues to recover from a blow to the face against Blackburn Rovers. Paul Nardi returned to the starting XI against Norwich City but it is expected that Hamer will be available to take on Birmingham City next week.

The QPR boss also confirmed that rising star Rayan Kolli has suffered another muscle injury and likely won’t play again until the New Year. The 20-year-old was regularly handed minutes by former head coach Marti Cifuentes but has been afforded just 200 minutes in the league so far this term.

Stephan said: “Rayan Kolli will probably come back at the end of the month. We need to be careful because it’s not the first [injury]. Probably in two or three weeks he can start the training sessions.”

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