QPR assessing Burrell injury – and Stephan explains Nardi recall

QPR are assessing another injury suffered by Rumarn Burrell during their 3-2 defeat at home to Derby County.

The striker, recently back after three months out with a hamstring injury, limped off late in the game at Loftus Road, having come on as a substitute.

Derby’s late winner was scored when Rangers were down to 10 men, with Burrell having gone off with the home side having made all their permitted substitutions.

Speaking shortly after the game, head coach Julien Stephan said he had not yet had a chance to speak to Rangers’ medical staff about the possible extent of the injury.

The Frenchman said: “He felt something and was not able to continue. I don’t know exactly what happened.”

Stephan was at a loss to explain how Rangers lost a match in which they played some excellent football and led twice.

Harvey Vale put them ahead and Oscar Fraulo levelled, before Richard Kone put the hosts back in front with his 10th league goal of the season.

Sondre Langås hauled the Rams level again, and Jaydon Banel’s 85th-minute strike secured the points for John Eustace’s team.

“I don’t know (how we lost). A lot of frustration at the end of the game for us,” said Stephan.

“There was pride at the way that we played, how we started the game. It was exactly what we needed to do – impose ourselves on the pitch with a lot of intensity, good movement, attack and be very aggressive in the opponents’ half.

“We played unbelievable in the first hour. It was probably the best hour of the season for us. But we created a lot of chances and after one hour we had kept the opponent alive, and when that’s the case you never know what can happen.

“And then when you play the last 10 or 15 minutes with only 10 players on the pitch, it’s more difficult.

“But for the future we need to manage these type of games better and kill them off when we play this well. It’s difficult to play better football than we did today.”

Stephan made a change in goal, restoring keeper Paul Nardi in place of Joe Walsh.

Nardi, who is set to leave QPR this summer when his contract ends, has been overlooked for much of the campaign, with the club keen to give Walsh a chance to establish himself.

“No injury. It was a choice. I think Paul kept a very good mindset and I wanted to give him the opportunity to play, so it was just a choice,” Stephan explained.