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FLW’s QPR fan pundit has issued the starting XI he would field for their opening game of the 2025-26 Championship campaign.

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...

Queens Park Rangers head into the new 2025-26 Championship season hopeful of building on last term’s mediocre 15th-placed finish.

The R’s are under new management led by Frenchman Julien Stephan, who will be looking to implement his ideas and playing style to the current playing squad as quickly as possible.

If he can do that, then the West London outfit have a good chance of starting the season in a positive manner, with the Hoops hosting Preston North End at Loftus Road on matchday one.

QPR have been working tirelessly to improve the squad too and allow Stephan to stamp his authority on the team, with the club currently recruiting five new faces, while more arrivals are expected to walk through the door ahead of the 1st September deadline.

With the new Championship season now days away, FLW’s QPR fan pundit has detailed the starting XI he’d like to see against Preston.

Paul Nardi

Goalkeeper

Speaking to Football League World, QPR fan pundit Louis Moir has detailed the starting lineup he would like to see in West London, admitting it is the wrong decision to displace Paul Nardi with Joe Walsh, while Ziyad Larkeche may be thrown into the XI after returning from Dundee FC due to their lack of depth at left-back.

Moir said: “If I was manager on Saturday for the game against Preston, I’d be making the starting XI as good as it can be at the moment.

“I’d have Nardi in goal because I don’t agree with Joe Walsh being our new number one for the season. That looks pretty obvious now as he’s played a lot of pre-season games, but I’d have Nardi instead.

Jimmy Dunne

Right-back

“Dunne at right-back," Moir stated.

The 27-year-old is undoubtedly one of QPR's standout players, and made R's fans incredibly happy upon penning a new deal with the club this summer despite serious interest in his services, namely from Sheffield United.

He looks set to once again be one of the Championship's best full-backs next season.

Liam Morrison

Centre-back

"Central defensive partnership of Liam Morrison and Amadou Mbengue," Moir predicted as QPR's centre-back pairing this weekend.

Morrison will be hoping to feature more prominently than he did during his debut season last term, which was hampered by injury problems.

Amadou Mbengue

Centre-back

Amadou Mbengue is one of a host of new arrivals at Loftus Road this summer, having signed on a free transfer from Reading.

The 23-year-old enjoyed three strong campaigns with the Royals, and looks set to form a key part of Stephan's defensive unit this season.

Ziyad Larkeche

Left-back

"Preferably a new left-back signing, which I do think we’re getting one in, but could well be Ziyad Larkeche, so we may have to settle with him for the time being," Moir stated.

The 22-year-old joined the R's in the summer of 2023, and spent last season out on loan in the Scottish Premiership with Dundee FC.

He would score three goals and provide a further three assists during his time north of the border, and arrived back at Loftus Road ready to stake his starting claim in Stephan's side.

Jonathan Varane

Central midfield

When choosing his midfield line, Moir opted to field Jonathan Varane and Nicolas Madsen, believing Sam Field hasn’t warranted a place in the XI for his pre-season performances.

Moir added: “I’d have two in midfield with Varane and Madsen.

“I think there’s a nice balance there between the two. I wouldn’t have Sam Field as he hasn’t impressed me over pre-season, and I think with the way we want to play, he just hasn’t got that technical ability.”

Nicolas Madsen

Central midfield

Madsen enjoyed a solid debut campaign as a QPR player last season, scoring three goals and providing three assists in 31 Championship outings.

The Dane, however, will no doubt be looking to improve on those numbers significantly in his second term in West London, having shown he can be a highly prolific attacking outlet from his time in Belgian football.

Kwame Poku

Right wing

“For the three behind the striker, I’d have Kwame Poku, Ilias Chair and Karamoko Dembélé. I'm really excited to see what those three can do this season, especially when playing together, hopefully a lot of times," Moir stated regarding QPR's forward line options.

Poku is perhaps the showcase signing of QPR's transfer window so far, arriving from Peterborough United where he had firmly established himself as one of the best young talents, not only in League One, but the EFL as a whole.

Karamoko Dembélé

Central attacking midfield

Karamoko Dembélé's loan move from Ligue 1 side Brest has officially become a permanent one this summer.

The 22-year-old can play anywhere across the forward line, but with Poku now in the side, he could find his role under Stephan in a central attacking midfield position.