Promising Jake Clarke-Salter update emerges from QPR | OneFootball

Queens Park Rangers have avoided further disappointment in the form of Jake Clarke-Saltee's fitness

Queens Park Rangers have enjoyed a positive start to life under new manager Julien Stephan.

There were question marks over which direction the Rs were heading in at the end of last season, as former boss Marti Cifuentes made his intention to no longer carry on as manager perfectly clear.

In came Stephan, who has adapted to life in the English game excellently after having experienced nothing but French football previously in his managerial career.

QPR didn’t start the season brilliantly, picking up one point in their first three matches and were hammered 7-1 by Coventry City during that time.

Rangers could’ve let this start seriously affect them and create a downward spiral, but Stephan managed to regather the troops and go again.

The West London outfit went on a six-match unbeaten run which resulted in four victories, subsequently pushing them up towards the top of the Championship standings.

A key factor in this success has been QPR’s excellent summer of recruitment. During this period, operators such as Richard Kone, Kwame Poku and Koki Saito moved to the club, to join an existing pool of talent which included the likes of Karamoko Dembélé, Ilias Chair and Jimmy Dunne.

QPR receive positive update on Jake Clarke-Salter’s fitness

One man QPR have had to progress without has been Jake Clarke-Salter, who hasn’t been available for selection since January.

Injuries have plagued the defender over the years, limiting him to just 16 league appearances during his first term at Loftus Road. Clarke-Salter bounced back from those troubles to be named the club's Players' Player of the Year for the 2023/24 campaign, highlighting how important he can be for QPR.

He briefly returned to action earlier this month for the Rs’ development squad in a clash against Swansea City but was withdrawn after 11 minutes due to suffering discomfort in his hip. Next up was a test versus Bournemouth, where the defender only managed half an hour.

QPR’s development squad has now confirmed via social media that this wasn’t a repeat of muscle injuries Clarke-Salter has struggled with in the past and was due to an opposition player supposedly stamping on him off the ball.

This will come as a huge relief to the Loftus Road faithful, who have seen how effective the 28-year-old has been in the past but may have been fearing another injury setback.

A fit Jake Clarke-Salter will only boost QPR’s play-off chances

Queens Park Rangers have looked extremely competitive so far this season, but have been operating without some of their best talents.

Alongside Clarke-Salter, other players such as Chair and Poku also haven’t been able to impact proceedings due to separate injury issues.

This highlights how good a job Stephan and Co. have been doing to remain competitive despite these limitations.

It also breeds hope among the Loftus Road faithful of what is capable of once everyone is back firing, and whether a return to the top six could truly be on the cards.