Fresh claim made over double QPR boost - It's a 'game-changer' | OneFootball

Jake Clarke-Salter and Kwame Poku are both back in contention for QPR's home match against Hull City this weekend

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Jake Clarke-Salter and Kwame Poku are in line to return to Queens Park Rangers' squad for this weekend's home fixture against Hull City, with the duo having spent a significant amount of time out in the treatment room.

It has been a turbulent campaign thus far at Loftus Road.

Former Rennes and Strasbourg boss Julien Stephan took over the reins of the West London outfit this summer following the departure of Marti Cifuentes to Leicester City, but since his arrival, QPR's form has been inconsistent at best.

Their opening three matches of the league season yielded just one point, but included a 7-1 hammering away to table-toppers Coventry City, as early pressure started to mount on the French boss.

The R's would respond emphatically by going unbeaten in their next six outings, which included four wins, as QPR shot up the Championship table towards the play-off places.

But just as quickly as they rose was as quickly as they fell, with the club having won just one of their preceding six game following their unbeaten streak, including four losses, with pressure yet again starting to build on Stephan.

Ahead of their clash with high-flying Hull City this weekend, Stephan will be excited by the proposition of having both Jake Clarke-Salter and Kwame Poku available for selection, with the pair having spent a significant portion of time out due to injury.

When fit, both are key players in the side, and Stephan will be hoping that their returns to the squad will give the R's the necessary boost they need to return to winning ways.

Football League World's QPR fan pundit, Louis, has shared their views on the news of Clarke-Salter and Poku set to return to the side for the R's this weekend, and whether they believe their returns will improve the side or not.

Louis said, "It's been a very, very long time coming for Clarke-Salter to return to action.

"Kwame Poku as well, obviously, we've just not seen what he can do yet, being injured in the first game of the season and then taking weeks to recover, coming back, getting injured again. It's been an awful start in that respect for Poku.

"But to have both him and Clarke-Salter back is massive because, well, arguably, when fit, those two start in our best 11. So, having not had them for a long time, it's certainly going to be a bit of a game-changer for us, I think.

"But then it's just that hope, especially with Clarke-Salter, you know, how long is he going to stay fit for? It's always in the back of your mind, you know. If he comes back, how long is he going to last?

"But I suppose you just have to have faith and just hope that these bad injuries are passed, and they can just both kick on, especially Poku as well.

"[He was] a massive, massive signing in the summer, and arguably the best winger in League One. He could be ridiculous at this level as well, and we just need to see it, and I'm so excited to hopefully see what he can do now that he's returning from injury.

"So, like I say, they both start, and to be honest, I'd probably start Clarke-Salter. No messing about now, he's been out for ages, he's had time to play in the development squad, he's been in full training.

"I'd literally chuck him in because we need to see what he's made of, essentially, and don't worry about, 'Oh, I don't want to risk him,' you know? Who cares at this point? He's been injured a lot, he's been out so many times, let's just start him and see what he can do.

"Poku will give us such an improvement, an added bonus on that right-hand side as well.

"[I'm] delighted that they're both finally fit and ready, and hopefully it won't be long until we have them secure in their places in the starting 11, and that will probably help the overall starting 11 to become more consistent as well, having them two in it."

The returns of Jake Clarke-Salter and Kwame Poku will provide Queens Park Rangers and Julien Stephan with a much-needed boost

Since joining QPR in 2022, Clarke-Salter's time in the capital has been plagued by injury woes, with the defender having missed over 80 games due to various injuries since his arrival.

The Chelsea academy product has made just 63 appearances across all competitions for QPR since his arrival over three years ago, and has missed more games than he has available for, in what is a damning statistic.

Though when fully fit, Clarke-Salter, 28, is a more than competent defender at Championship level, and the Englishman will no doubt improve the R's defence upon his return.

Having predominantly played in League Two and League One throughout his career, with a brief spell in the Championship during the 2021/22 season with Peterborough, Poku returned to the Championship with QPR this summer on a free transfer.

The winger had lit up League One over the past couple of seasons for the Posh, scoring 23 and assisting 15 in 64 third tier games over the prior two seasons, earning himself a move to the second tier.

However, Poku has played just twice so far this season, having been hit by an injury in an unlucky start to life at QPR.

With Ilias Chair, Paul Smyth, Koki Saito, Rayan Kolli, Karamoko Dembele, and Harvey Vale all able to operate out wide, Poku's place in the starting 11 is not a foregone conclusion, and despite his obvious talent, he must earn his place in the side, as will Clarke-Salter.