QPR hoping to have Dickie back for Bees game

Mark Warburton is hoping Rob Dickie will be fit for QPR’s clash with Brentford on Friday.

Dickie, who has been impressive since signing from Oxford United at the start of the season, missed Tuesday’s 3-2 win over Rotherham after rolling his ankle on the eve of Rangers’ 1-1 draw with Watford last Saturday.

“He was on the training pitch today and I hope very much he will be available,” manager Warburton said.

“The medical team are working very hard with him.”

Rangers held off a late Rotherham aerial bombardment to grind out the three points at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, with centre-backs Yoann Barbet and Conor Masterson both finishing the match with injuries.

Masterson broke his nose early in the first half after tangle with giant Millers striker Michael Smith and Barbet injured his foot making a last-ditch tackle to deny Rotherham an equaliser.

Both players finished the game and although Warburton admitted his side are light in the central defensive position he insisted there are options available to him should there be any more injuries to the heart of the defence.

“Players are going down at all levels at all clubs, it is just demands being placed on players,” he said.

“People laugh it off, but at this level a game every three days is hugely challenging for elite athletes and we are paying the price.

“We might be a bit light, but that is down to the financial landscape as it is now prevents clubs carrying massive squads that you may have done 18 months ago.

“It’s great to hear that we may have some spectators in soon but the financial landscape as it is now prevents clubs from carrying big squads and prevents you paying wages you may have happily paid 18 months ago.

“Budgets have been scaled down at most clubs but that is life and you have to get on with it.

“We can’t afford to carry four or five centre-halves. Dom Ball has played 100 games as a centre-half, Geoff Cameron has played Premier League level at centre-half.”