Connolly close to return, says QPR boss

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Matt Connolly could be available for QPR’s trip to Stoke after the international break, according to boss Neil Warnock.

The defender has been sidelined with an ankle problem but Rangers are hopeful he will rejoin their squad for the trip to the Britannia Stadium on 19 November.

His injury was initially believed to require surgery but a scan has revealed it is not as serious as first feared.

Warnock explained: “They thought Matt was going to need an operation but the surgeon said not, and I expect him to step up training this week. He might only be a couple of weeks away.”

Stoke has been a notoriously tough place to visit for even the top teams in recent seasons.

But R’s striker Jay Bothroyd believes impressive performances against Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City mean Warnock’s side can feel confident.

Bothroyd said: “Before this run of games we said we wanted three points from four games and it’s great that we’ve done that.

“We’ve done everything right. We worked really hard as a group and we’re building, even though we have lost the last two games.

“Stoke are a very good side and tough to beat away. But we look at this as a game we can impose ourselves on.

“We’ve come together, we’re hungry and hopefully we can get some points from the next three games.”