Lynch injury not serious, says McClaren

QPR: Joel Lynch
Joel Lynch went off injured against Middlesbrough. [Picture: John Patrick Fletcher/Action Plus]

Steve McClaren does not believe an injury Joel Lynch suffered during QPR’s victory against Middlesbrough is serious.

Lynch limped off just before Boro equalised at Loftus Road, were Nahki Wells then netted Rangers’ winner.

Rangers are without centre-backs Alex Baptiste and Grant Hall, who are expected to return to training next week but are unlikely to be fit enough to be available at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

But McClaren expects Lynch to play against their former club at the City Ground – where QPR have never won.

“It’s just a dead leg. It stiffened up over half-time,” the Rangers boss said.

“We’ll have to wheel him out next week because it’s a dead leg and hopefully not too bad.”

McClaren, who is also without the sidelined Angel Rangel and Geoff Cameron, moved Darnell Furlong to centre-back to replace Lynch.

Furlong, fit again after a knee problem, started a match for the first time this season and was praised for his performance.

McClaren said: “Furlong – first game back after injury – I thought was doing great at right-back but then came in at centre-back and did a great job.

“We had to readjust and we readjusted well – great spirit in the camp and a great attitude from the players.”