QPR banking on Konchesky staying fit

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Chris Ramsey has admitted that QPR cannot afford veteran defender Paul Konchesky to pick up an injury.

Left-backs Yun Suk-Young and Armand Traore were sidelined for Rangers’ entire pre-season campaign and are expected to be out for at least another couple of weeks.

And with Clint Hill needed at centre-back, where head coach Ramsey is also short of options, teenager Cole Kpekawa could be called upon should recent signing Konchesky, 34, be unavailable.

“Hopefully those two players will come back soon,” said Ramsey, whose team face Yeovil this evening in the first round of the Capital One Cup.

“We hope Paul can stay fit, because we wouldn’t want to chuck Cole in at the deep end.”

South Korea international Yun has been nursing a knee problem but is back in training.

Traore’s fitness issue continue – he has started only 62 league matches since his £2m move from Arsenal four years ago.

Who is Cole Kpekawa?
Kpekawa, 18, has been with QPR since the age of eight. Initially a central defender, he was been increasingly been deployed at left-back – including during Rangers’ recent pre-season trip to Italy. He has been on loan to Portsmouth and Colchester.

“I think Yun is probably two or three weeks away, I’m not exactly sure but I think it would be within that time,” said Ramsey.

“He’s had a knee injury but it looks like he’s training quite well and I’m hoping he’s going to be back sooner rather than later.

“Armand’s probably in the same boat [being out for two or three more weeks]. He’s in the last year on his contract and I’m sure he’ll want to show what he can do to get back in the team.”

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