QPR players back for crucial Wigan game

Gareth Ainsworth has confirmed that Chris Willock, Ethan Laird and Leon Balogun are set to return to the QPR squad for Saturday’s vital game at Wigan.

Willock has been plagued by hamstring trouble this season, while on-loan Manchester United right-back Laird has been struggling with a hamstring problem of his own and has not featured since going off at half-time during the 3-0 defeat at home to Sunderland on 14 February.

Veteran centre-back Balogun, meanwhile, has been unavailable for almost five months.

All three players returned to action in a B-team match on Monday and boss Ainsworth says they are “absolutely fine”.

Ainsworth added: “We’re still carrying some injuries but the great news is Leon Balogun, Ethan Laird and Chris Willock coming through that game well and they will be in contention this weekend.”

The game against the Championship bottom’s side is of obvious importance to Rangers given that their appalling run has left them just six points clear of the relegation zone.

They might still be without Ilias Chair and Kenneth Paal, who are not yet fully fit, with Osman Kakay expected to miss out after suffering a knee injury against Birmingham prior to the international break.

Lyndon Dykes, who recently recovered from pneumonia, was being assessed by the club on Thursday morning after returning from international duty with Scotland – the striker featured in wins over Spain and Cyprus.