QPR v Middlesbrough team news with 5 doubts and 4 outs as Julien Stephan drops huge Kwame Poku update

QPR may feel that any lingering play-off hopes have been dealt a fatal blow by a poor run of recent form, the London outfit losing three of their last four.

Sheffield United claimed a 2-0 victory at Loftus Road last weekend and Julien Stephan is tasked with finding a response from his side in front of another home crowd this weekend.

The visitors this time around are promotion chasing Middlesbrough, who sit second in the Championship and five points off leaders Coventry City. LondonWorld has your team news.

QPR team news

QPR will welcome back summer signing Kwame Poku to the matchday squad this weekend with the winger recovering from a hamstring problem picked up in January. The 24-year-old has not featured since the 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday.

The R’s beat plenty of Championship competition to sign the winger from Peterborough United last summer but Poku has managed just eight Championship appearances.

Speaking about Poku ahead of facing Middlesbrough, Stephan told the Hounslow Herald: “[He’s] probably not ready to play 90 minutes, but I hope to play him 15-20 minutes.”

Julien Stephan was also without midfield linchpin Nicolas Madsen against Sheffield United after he limped off early against Southampton. That is not thought to be a long-term problem but the Dane remains a doubt for the weekend.

QPR are also without Ilias Chair, Justin Obikwu, Karamoko Dembele and top scorer Rumarn Burrell.

Doubts - Nicolas Madsen. Outs - Ilias Chair, Justin Obikwu, Karamoko Dembele, Rumarn Burrell.

Middlesbrough team news

Middlesbrough are hoping to welcome back their own midfielder at Loftus Road this weekend with Leo Castledine in contention to return. The January signing has not played since the end of January.

Speaking to the Northern Echo, Kim Hellberg said: “He’s getting better. He’s trained all week, so we’ll see if that’s too early or if he’s ready to play. But he looks much, much better. And that’s in general for almost everyone. We are getting back, we’re getting to better positions with them.”

Boro have also been without Sammy Silvera, Alfie Jones and Alex Bangura but the trio are also getting close to a return. Hellberg was tight-lipped on who is closer than others, but hinted that some of the sidelined players could at least make the bench.

Doubts - Leo Castledine, Sammy Silvera, Alfie Jones, Alex Bangura.

In other news, QPR, Charlton Athletic and Millwall handed future Premier League promotion boost by EFL.