4 players set to miss QPR v Middlesbrough ft 5-goal signing | OneFootball

The four players set to miss out as two of the early pace setters clash at Loftus Road

QPR's electric start to the 2026/27 Championship campaign faces its toughest challenge on Saturday, as Julien Stephan's side play host to Middlesbrough.

The Hoops moved up to second on Wednesday night following a 2-1 win against Cardiff City, extending their unbeaten run to begin the campaign to four games, with three wins amongst them.

However, so far, QPR have faced off against two newly promoted sides and a couple of others who finished in the bottom seven of the second tier last season. In Kim Hellberg's side, their early-season promotion credentials will be tested.

Boro are waiting to build that head of steam that so many critics expect them to in the Swedish boss' first full campaign in charge, but having said that, they still go into Saturday's clash sitting fifth with seven points from their opening four games.

It'll be a really entertaining matchup between two of the early pacesetters in the division, but these four players won't be fit to play a part.

Boy Kemper

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QPR got through their clash with Cardiff unscathed, so will have a largely full squad to choose from. Boy Kemper, though, remains out.

The 27-year-old arrived at Loftus Road in the summer from Dutch side NAC Breda, but only managed a couple of games for his new club before going down with an ankle injury which will keep him out until after the international break.

Karamoko Dembele

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And Karamoko Dembele continues to miss time after suffering an ACL injury back in February.

The 23-year-old has had his injury struggles ever since he first joined the R's on loan from French outfit Brest on loan a couple of summers ago, missing at least 18 league games in each of his two campaigns at Loftus Road.

Dembele is expected to be back with the squad in a matter of weeks, but a full recovery will still be a little while away.

Jeremy Sarmiento

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A couple of doubts for Middlesbrough are in the attacking areas. Jeremy Sarmiento is the first potential absentee after limping off five minutes before half-time last Saturday against West Brom.

The Ecuadorian international has shown signs of improvement after his move from Brighton and Hove Albion was made permanent in the summer. He failed to score in 20 games at the Riverside in the second half of last season, but already has two goals and an assist this year.

Speaking ahead of their 1-1 draw with Burnley, Kim Hellberg admitted that a return for the QPR game could be "possible." If he isn't, the 24-year-old should be available for their EFL Cup tie against Crystal Palace next Tuesday.

Myles Peart-Harris

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And the other precautionary absentee from Boro's draw with Burnley was Myles Peart-Harris, who was taken off at half-time against the Baggies after picking up a calf injury.

The 23-year-old has enjoyed a decent start to life in a Middlesbrough shirt following his summer switch from Oxford United, starting consecutive league games before his absence against Burnley on Wednesday night.

"Hopefully he will be back for Saturday. Otherwise, it will be next week," Hellberg said following the draw at Turf Moor.