QPR news: Player issues emerge pre-West Brom, big Loftus Road exit confirmed | OneFootball

The pre-Christmas period is an important one for QPR, so here's a round-up of the latest from Loftus Road including some important injury news.

Queens Park Rangers face a busy few days, with back-to-back home fixtures coming up. Here's a round-up of the latest news from Loftus Road.

Defeat at Norwich City was a huge disappointment for Queens Park Rangers following two successive wins against Hull City and Blackburn Rovers, but the team need to pick themselves up quickly for two home matches in four days. On Saturday, they entertain West Bromwich Albion, while on Tuesday night they are at home again, this time against Birmingham City.

In a congested-looking Championship table, these two matches are of particular importance. QPR and West Brom have identical records and are separated only by goal difference, while they're only three points behind 8th-placed Birmingham, so two wins would not only get the team back on track after a disappointing performance at Norwich, but would also boost their league position ahead of tricky-looking matches against Middlesbrough and Leicester before Christmas.

There has also been a change behind the scenes at the club, while head coach Julien Stephan has spoken about the importance of their next few matches and the club's current injury situation, so here's a round-up of the latest news from Loftus Road.

Four Rangers players will be missing for crunch West Brom fixture

Rangers head coach Julien Stephan gave a press conference earlier in the week and confirmed that he will be missing four players for their home match against West Bromwich Albion.

On the club's current injury situation, he said: “We have four players who will not be available for the next game. Field will be back 10 days or two weeks. Kolli will probably be back at the end of the month. Hamer will be available on Tuesday. Vale will (be back training) next week.”

Sam Field was substituted at half-time during Rangers’ defeat at Norwich because of a groin problem and is expected to return to training the week after next. Rayan Kolli, who has been hampered by injury problems already this season, is out again with another muscle injury.

Harvey Vale has had a muscle injury for the last couple of weeks, while goalkeeper Ben Hamer had to be withdrawn after colliding with one of his own players in their 1-0 win at Blackburn, missed the Norwich match and will miss the West Brom clash, but is expected to be back for the Birmingham City match on Tuesday night.

Stephan clear on the importance of Rangers' next three home games

Three of QPR's remaining four games before Christmas are at home, and Stephan was very clear on the importance of these three matches: "We need to create something special in terms of atmosphere. At home, it's very important, in our stadium, with our fans, we need to bring our energy, our collective quality."

The quality of the opposition in these three matches means that Stephan is already aware that his team will need to be on top of their game if they're going to be successful: "We face West Brom, Birmingham and Leicester, three good teams with very good players, so we need to play 100% in all the parameters."

He was also asked about the inexperience of Ryan Mason, the manager he'll be facing on Saturday, and the QPR manager doesn't feel that too much should be read into this: "I don't think it's a question of the manager. I don't have any experience of the Championship myself. I think it's a question of how they play, if they play well, with good ideas offensively and a good mindset."

QPR legend Paul Furlong leaves the club's backroom staff

One Queens Park Rangers legend left Loftus Road this week, but it was a member of the club's backroom staff. Former Rangers striker Paul Furlong has left the club this week after 14 years, having previously been their development squad head coach.

Furlong told the club website: "I have had an amazing 14 years at this football club as a coach after what was a very special period as a QPR player. Everyone who knows me knows what this club means to me and how proud I have been to represent it."

Furlong made 179 appearances for the club and scored 57 goals over seven years as a player, and one of his more notable achievements as a coach at QPR was bringing through his son Darnell, who has gone on to make almost 400 appearances in the EFL and Premier League, including almost 300 for West Bromwich Albion. Darnell currently plays for Ipswich Town.