QPR injuries are ‘challenging’ Stephan

Julien Stephan admits QPR are in a “challenging” spell because of the number of attacking players currently unavailable.

The likes of Ilias Chair and summer signing Kwame Poku have been out injured and Karamoko Dembele has been ruled out for the rest of the season with anterior cruciate ligament damage.

Striker Justin Obikwu, signed almost a month ago after top scorer Rumarn Burrell suffered a hamstring injury, has himself been unavailable and has not featured since arriving from Coventry.

“It’s a challenge because we don’t have a lot of options,” Stephan said.

“Now the main thing is to find the right balance during the week between continuing to work and being careful with the players with the load and intensity of the sessions.

“We need to find the right balance because it’s impossible for us to lose another offensive player. The opportunity is small now, for me, regarding the choice.

“It’s a challenge to find the solution and find some adaptation.”

Rangers are nevertheless among a number of clubs still in the running for a Championship play-off place.

They are 13th in the table but just three points from the top six, having beaten Coventry – who were top – in their previous home match and drawn 0-0 at Charlton last time out.

On Saturday they are at home to relegation-threatened Blackburn, who have installed Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill as manager.

Rovers are third from bottom, have won just two of their past 16 league games – a run which has included seven defeats and began with QPR’s 1-0 win at Ewood Park in November.

R’s head coach Stephan said: “In the last week we succeeded to beat the leaders and a good draw – probably some frustration not to score, but to take a point each time away is a good result.

“We now need a good performance against Blackburn. We know it will be tough because they want to stay in the league.

“Now it’s not a question of position in the table. All the games will be very difficult, so we need to be ready.”