QPR handed major double boost ahead of Hull City clash | OneFootball

QPR will be boosted by the return of defender Jake Clarke-Salter and winger Kwame Poku for Saturday's game against Hull City.

Queens Park Rangers head coach Julien Stephan has confirmed that defender Jake Clarke-Salter and winger Kwame Poku will be fit for the game against Hull City at Loftus Road on Saturday.

After a tough start to Stephan's tenure that included a 7-1 defeat at Coventry City, QPR emerged as surprise play-off contenders after an impressive run of form in September, and they sat as high as sixth in the table in early October.

However, the R's were unable to maintain that form, and they have won just one of their last six matches, but they did at least end a run of three consecutive defeats with a 0-0 draw against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane prior to the international break.

QPR are back in action on Saturday when they host Hull, but it will not be an easy task against the Tigers, who have lost just one of their last eight games as their strong season under head coach Sergej Jakirovic continues.

The Hoops have dropped to 16th in the table after their recent poor run of results, but they are only six points from the play-off places, and as Stephan looks to get his side's season back on track, he will be boosted by the return of two of his star players for this weekend's clash.

Julian Stephan issues Jake Clarke-Salter, Kwame Poku update as QPR prepare for Hull City visit

Defender Clarke-Salter has not played a single minute for QPR this season, and his last appearance came all the way back in early January in the 6-2 FA Cup defeat at Leicester City.

It has been a tough year for Clarke-Salter, and fears about a fresh injury setback for the 28-year-old increased after he was substituted less than half an hour into a development squad game against Bournemouth last month, but he did not suffer a recurrence of his muscle injury, and Stephan has confirmed to West London Sport that he is available to make his return against Hull on Saturday after over 10 months on the sidelines.

Winger Poku was seen as one of the signings of the summer in the Championship when he joined the R's from Peterborough United for a fee of £900,000 plus add-ons, but he has endured a frustrating start to life at Loftus Road.

Poku made his debut for the Hoops in their 1-1 draw against Preston North End on the opening day of the season, but he then sustained a hamstring injury that kept him out for just under three months before he made his return as a substitute in the 4-1 defeat to Ipswich Town earlier this month.

After picking up an injury in training, Poku missed the last two games against Southampton and Sheffield United before the international break, but he is now back to full fitness, with Stephan revealing that he could feature against the Tigers this weekend.

QPR will be without goalkeeper Joe Walsh as he continues his recovery from a broken wrist, while defender Ziyad Larkeche is expected to miss much of the rest of the season with a serious knee injury, but Stephan has an otherwise fully fit squad to choose from on Saturday, with all of his players returning unscathed from international duty.

Jake Clarke-Salter, Kwame Poku return is a timely boost for Julien Stephan amid poor QPR form

Inconsistency has prevented QPR from mounting a serious promotion challenge over the years, and it has once again been a problem for the West London outfit this season, with their recent disappointing run of form stalling their rise up the table.

However, the Hoops have an excellent chance to close the gap to the play-off places on Saturday when they face a Hull side currently occupying a top six spot, and Stephan will be delighted to welcome back Clarke-Salter and Poku for the visit of the Tigers.

While both will need time to get back up to speed, Clarke-Salter should help to tighten up a defence that has looked a little vulnerable in recent weeks, and Poku should add plenty of attacking threat at the other end of the pitch, but Stephan will be determined to ease the pair back in gently to avoid any further setbacks.