West Brom v QPR team news with 8 outs and 1 doubt as hat-trick hero sidelined

QPR look to bounce back from back-to-back Championship defeats against Portsmouth and Sheffield United on a tricky trip to West Brom this weekend.

The Baggies sit sixth in the second tier and are chasing a play-off space but, in a tightly packed table, can’t afford many slip-ups between now and the end of the campaign. Marti Cifuentes’ R’s side are 14th, eight points off West Brom.

This is the same fixture which opened the Championship campaign for both sides this season. QPR won’t need reminding of that, losing 3-1 at Loftus Road as Josh Maja bagged a hat-trick for the visitors. However, there is a boost in news that the striker is set to miss out this weekend - here’s your West Brom v QPR team news.

West Brom team news

West Brom defender Semi Ajayi limped off in the 2-0 win over Oxford United last month and is sidelined with an injury. Tony Mowbray said: “It’s disappointing for him, frustrating for him and for us.

“He’s got all the qualities to be a really talented player. He has got real confidence in his mobility to defend so it allows us to play a higher line and try and keep the opposition away from our goal. He will be a loss. A blow to us but we wish him a speedy recovery and we will get on with it with the fit players. We have to push on.”

Kyle Bartley returned from suspension to replace Ajayi against Leeds United last time out and will likely start against QPR. Mowbray is also without attacking duo Jed Wallace and Josh Maja. Wallace has a calf injury and Maja is dealing with a leg injury.

Outs - Semi Ajayi, Jed Wallace, Josh Maja.

QPR team news

QPR provided an in depth injury update to supporters this week, which included a huge blow for the side with confirmation that midfield linchpin Sam Field might not play again this season. The 26-year-old missed out of the matchday squad against Sheffield United last time out following an injury against Portsmouth and will now face a race against time to return before the end of the Championship campaign.

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 West Brom will 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. Nicolas Madsen was absent against Sheffield United due to illness and is expected to return.

Doubt - Nicolas Madsen. Outs - Sam Field, Rayan Kolli, Zan Celar, Jake Clarke-Salter, Harvey Vale.

In other news, this is why Tottenham Hotspur loanee Yang Min-heyok is taking the next steps of a ‘golden boy’ journey at QPR.