Doyle ruled out as QPR ease Austin back

Kevin Doyle will miss Saturday’s game against Yeovil, QPR boss Harry Redknapp has confirmed.

The Republic of Ireland striker, who is on loan at Loftus Road from Wolves, picked up a knee injury at Birmingham and missed Rangers’ defeat against Brighton on Tuesday.

He is also a doubt for next week’s trip to Sheffield Wednesday but it is hoped that he will be available for the game at Middlesbrough on 22 March.

With top scorer Charlie Austin sidelined, Doyle’s absence has been a further blow to Rangers’ dwindling hopes of automatic promotion.

But they have been encouraged by the progress of Austin, who has been jogging this week as part of his rehabilitation following shoulder surgery.

Redknapp said: “He [Doyle] is no good for tomorrow – he’s tweaked a knee ligament and we need to let that settle down and then see how he is.

“Charlie did some running for the first time but there’s a lot of work to do to there and we’ve got to make sure we get him right in the next few weeks.”

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