Laird in line to start for QPR against Blackpool

Ethan Laird is expected to start for QPR against Blackpool on Tuesday after finalising his season-long loan move from Manchester United.

The 21-year-old’s arrival ends Rangers’ long pursuit for right-back reinforcements and head coach Mick Beale believes the England Under-20 international will be a great addition to his squad.

“He brings lots of quality, lots of pace, lots of excitement, he’s a really good personality, a lovely boy,” Beale said.

“He’s young and ambitious and will enable us to play more towards the style I want with in terms of full-backs by being higher up the pitch and also the option of playing with a back three.

“He played 90 minutes for Man United against Rayo Vallacano last week and played 30 minutes in a game at the middle of last week, so he is fit and ready to go.

“The only thing is that he has not had adjustment with his team-mates yet, but good players can fit in and we are not going to ask him to do anything he hasn’t done before and would have no issue throwing Ethan right in.”

Kenneth Paal and Chris Willock trained on Monday and will be involved for the Blackpool game.

And Jake Clarke-Salter might return from a hamstring problem earlier than expected, having initially been ruled out until after the international break. 

“Jake will be touch and go for the Milwall and Stoke games on the 14th and 17th of September,” Beale said.

“If he’s close to it he will come back, but if there is any risk I won’t.

“We are managing Jimmy (Dunne) and Rob (Dickie) as much as we can and we have Conor Masterson as back-up, so we are alright at the moment so we are not at emergency stations just yet.

“I do think we have lost a little bit of balance and the quality he gives us, but it’s important that when he comes back he is right.”

Luke Amos and Taylor Richards will be sidelined until after the international break.