Categories: QPR

QPR set to offload Norwegian misfit

QPR are to discuss the future of Petter Vaagan Moen after his failure to make an impact at Loftus Road.

The Norway international has barely featured since arriving from SK Brann in January and was not included in R’s boss Neil Warnock’s 25-man Premier League squad.

Vaagan Moen is available for a loan with a view to a permanent move when the transfer window re-opens and a number of Championship clubs have watched him this season.

He has spent much of his career on the left flank, but Warnock has only considered him as a possible stand-in for midfielder Alejandro Faurlin.

Warnock said: “I think Petter will make a living in England. There’s a number of clubs talking about taking him on loan and we’ll now decide where he can go.

Mackie is closing in on a return

“He’s been unlucky really, because he would have taken Ale Faurlin’s place but Ale’s never been injured and has had a fantastic time since I’ve been here. 

“That [central midfield] is where I see Petter’s best position and when I did the squad I had to look at the area I saw him going.

“I didn’t put him in for that one position because there are other players who can play in three positions, and in a squad of 25 that’s important.”

Vaagan Moen’s omission by Warnock was not a surprise, with Hogan Ephraim the only notable absentee from the 25.

Ephraim and Patrick Agyemang missed out partly because Jamie Mackie was included after Rangers were advised that the forward is close to completing his recovery from a broken leg.

Mackie is set to be given the green light to return to action next week, when a specialist is expected to tell him he can finally resume full training.

Rangers plan to then immediately select him for a reserve game, as his overall fitness is excellent after several weeks of conditioning training.

Warnock said: “With Jamie, he’s so close we just had to go with him based on the advice we were given. I look at what we’ve got in the squad and he can play in a number of positions.

“Fitness isn’t going to be a problem, he’s just got to be given the go-ahead. He’s probably fitter than any of our players, the way he’s training, but until he gets that go-ahead next week from the specialist to actually join in on the physical side, he’s itching to go.

“It’ll be straightaway if he gets the go-ahead – straight into matches. I imagine that within a week he’ll be having a game. Knowing him, I’d be very surprised if he isn’t involved after the next international break.”

Meanwhile, Kieron Dyer is scheduled to see a specialist later today.

The former England international has not trained since being stretchered off with foot injury three minutes into his QPR debut on the opening day of the season.

This post was last modified on 17/09/2011

David McIntyre
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David McIntyre