QPR sent hints as Sunderland reporter Phil Smith teases 5 things spotted in Black Cats training this week
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Top of the table Sunderland are the visitors to Loftus Road this weekend as QPR continue to look for a second league win of the campaign.
QPR face what could be the toughest fixture of the season so far this weekend as an in-form Sunderland side make the long trip to Loftus Road to take on Marti Cifuentes' struggling side.
The R's will be buoyed by draws in their last two outings, those following a run of four straight defeats. However, Sunderland arrive at Loftus Road as the league's form side, sitting five points clear at the top of the table at this early stage.
On paper, it's a hard ask for Cifuentes to lead his QPR side to three points against the North East outfit but with just nine points on the board from 12 outings this term, every match is a must win for the Catalan boss.
In preparation for this weekend, Sunderland opened one of their training sessions to the public with 2,000 supporters watching on at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland Echo reporter Phil Smith was in attendance and picked up on five interesting things, which may pique the interest of QPR ahead of Saturday.
One of those is a blow to QPR in that Sunderland are 'looking strong' when it comes to forward options. Wilson Isidor played a full part in training having limped off against Oxford United at the weekend while Aaron Connolly also 'trained fully' and is vying for his first start. Meanwhile, rising star Eliezer Mayenda was back in full training and expected to make the matchday squad this weekend.
There is some cause for Sunderland worry. Anthony Patterson wasn't able to take part in training and neither was Dan Ballard. Those players are not said to hold serious injuries but Saturday could come too soon.
QPR will hope to avoid a Sunderland romp at all costs, but should the Black Cats cruise to an early lead, Le Bris could look to give fringe players some minutes. Smith reports that Milan Aleksic, Nazariy Rusyn, Adil Aouchiche and Abdoullah Ba were all involved in training as they look to break into the first team squad and pick up some valuable playing time.
The final two points picked up by the Sunderland Echo are less time-pressing for this weekend's Loftus Road trip. 19-year-old goalkeeper Dan Cameron was promoted to the senior squad and is one for the future, while new defensive coach Pedro Ribeiro was in the thick of the action.