Julien Stephan reveals big double QPR injury blow after Charlton clash | OneFootball

Rangers could be without another key duo ahead of Saturday's encounter with West Brom

Queens Park Rangers head coach Julien Stephan has issued an initially concerning update on defensive duo, Tariq Lamptey and Jimmy Dunne, who were both substituted with injuries in Wednesday night's draw with Charlton Athletic.

Rangers' respectable start to the Championship season continued with a goalless draw against the Addicks at The Valley, but there are now doubts as to whether the aforementioned Lamptey and Dunne will be able to feature on Saturday lunchtime when the London side face league-leading West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.

After finishing last season in 15th place, Stephan will be hoping that his side can make strides of progress towards the second tier's play-off positions which, of course, have been expanded in 2026/27, somewhat making the promotion picture wide-open.

The West London side have only tasted defeat once in the league so far this campaign, which came against Middlesbrough at Loftus Road on Saturday afternoon through a 1-0 scoreline, albeit that particular encounter was also overshadowed by injuries to key performers.

Now, with Lamptey and club captain, Dunne, who have impressed in a new-look defence in W12 in the opening month of the season, the 45-year-old Frenchman may be given a selection headache against the Baggies in the upcoming fixture due to the fact some areas of his squad are already stretched.

Julien Stephan issues concerning update after QPR suffer Tariq Lamptey, Jimmy Dunne injury blows

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Lamptey was one of six additions made to Stephan's squad throughout the summer transfer window, although eyebrows were somewhat raised at the time his arrival at Loftus Road was confirmed due to a serious ACL injury sustained at Fiorentina last season, just 22 minutes into his full Serie A debut.

The versatile 25-year-old has made five Championship appearances this season, with Wednesday's clash with Charlton being just his second start, although he would be replaced by fellow summer recruit, Dennis Cirkin, after 36 minutes.

Dunne, meanwhile, was also substituted in place of Jake Clarke-Salter three minutes after the half-time break, and although the extent of their injuries are not yet known, Stephan, unsurprisingly, wasn't best pleased with the fact more issues have piled up.

“Now we have to find a way to present a competitive team on Saturday. I will reflect on that tomorrow,” he said in his post-match press conference.

“It’s difficult for me to give you more information about them because we have to assess them, but it doesn’t present very well.”

QPR could be without several key defensive and creative stars at West Brom

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Although QPR have only kept two clean sheets so far this season, both in goalless draws against Bolton Wanderers and, indeed, Charlton, if Lamptey and Dunne are to be sidelined for an extended period of time, it will be a major concern heading into the international break.

However, due to said break, there is also a three-week period without any club action, which would allow multiple players to get up to speed.

However, whilst Clarke-Salter and Cirkin provide adequate cover, defence isn't the only area of concern for Stephan at this particular moment.

It has been confirmed that Ilias Chair will be sidelined until the international break, whilst Richard Kone has also been absent from the past two outings and Koki Saito remains doubtful for Saturday's trip to the West Midlands.

Queens Park Rangers will be satisfied with their start to the season amid injury concerns

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Injuries naturally have an impact across the season for all 24 Championship sides, but there is no doubt that Stephan will be encouraged by his team's start to the campaign as a result of such woes.

It has also been a much more encouraging start than the opening matches of last season for the West London side, who were eventually able to resurrect such form and sit in and amongst the play-off pack for a brief period before fading out in the final weeks due to a poor run.