QPR boss Julien Stephan issue Barry Bannan warning ahead of Sheffield Wednesday clash | OneFootball

The R’s has pointed out Sheffield Wednesday’s biggest threat ahead of the weekend clash.

Queens Park Rangers boss Julien Stephan has highlighted Barry Bannan as Sheffield Wednesday’s biggest threat as the R’s meet with the Owls this weekend.

The Hoops had made a poor start to the new second-tier term under Stephan prior to their impressive 3-1 victories over Charlton Athletic and Wrexham, while an eye-catching 1-0 victory over high-flying Stoke City last weekend has moved them to the periphery of the play-offs places.

This has seen the West London outfit take 10 points from their opening six league games, with QPR outside the top six by goal difference.

QPR will be looking to keep their early-season form going, with upcoming games against Sheffield Wednesday and Oxford United targeted for maximum points to help establish themselves in the promotion mix.

And in the build-up to their meeting with the Owls on Saturday afternoon, R’s boss Stephan has pinpointed who Wednesday’s most dangerous player will be that his side has to try and keep quiet.

Julien Stephan names Barry Bannan as Sheffield Wednesday player to keep an eye on

Reported by London World, QPR boss Julien Stephan has singled out Barry Bannan as Sheffield Wednesday’s biggest threat for their clash with the Owls this week, believing he has multiple avenues to creating goals.

Stephan said: “(Barry) Bannan is a big strength in this team.

“He organises very well the game and different positions, able to play short, long, good at set pieces.

"He scored a very good free kick against Portsmouth. We have to organise something to reduce his influence.”

Barry Bannan is still a big threat in the Championship

Despite sitting at the age of 35, Barry Bannan still has a lot more to give and is the creative outlet in the Sheffield Wednesday team, responsible for so much that happens in the final third.

The Scotsman has faced no club more in his career than QPR, playing 18 times and only being on the losing side three times, so the R’s will have to conjure up a fantastic performance to make it number four.

Bannan also had a big say in Wednesday’s two second-tier games against QPR last term, finding the back of the net in a 1-1 draw at Hillsborough while contributing an assist in a 2-0 victory for the Owls at Loftus Road.

It will be interesting to see if the Hoops have learned their lesson from his exploits in 2024-25, and it’s positive to hear a manager being proactive in going out to stop an opposition’s most dangerous attacking source.

Bannan’s influence on the game will be so important to how the result unfolds over the weekend, with QPR having a great chance of making it four wins on the spin if they can limit him throughout the 90 minutes.