Larkeche in line for QPR starting place


Ziyad Larkeche could make his full league debut for QPR this weekend.

First-choice wing-back Kenneth Paal has been on international duty with Suriname, playing in matches against Grenada and Cuba.

Paal is due to arrive back in London on Thursday and his fitness will be assessed ahead of Rangers’ home match against Sunderland.


Larkeche, who turns 21 next week, is likely to feature against the Black Cats – and might well start the game, having impressed boss Gareth Ainsworth.

It would be Larkeche’s first Championship start for Rangers since being signed during the summer after being released by Fulham.

He started in last month’s Carabao Cup defeat by Norwich and came on as a late substitute during the recent win at Middlesbrough.

QPR expect Lyndon Dykes to be in their squad for Saturday’s game.

Dykes returned to action for Scotland and featured as a second-half substitute in their loss to England, having been out since picking up a knee injury against Norwich.

Sinclair Armstrong, who made his senior Republic of Ireland debut and subsequently scored for their Under-21 side, Osman Kakay and Paul Smyth are among the other Rangers players to have been on international duty.

Ilias Chair remained with QPR after being left out of the Morocco squad – and after expected interest in him ahead of the recent transfer deadline did not materialise.

The club anticipated interest in Chair in the final stages of the transfer window, and Leeds were reported to have made an attempt to sign him, but there were no approaches for any of Rangers’ players.