Mackie and Motta feature in QPR friendly

QPR forward Jamie Mackie returned to action on Wednesday afternoon – and scored – in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Reading, where Italian defender Marco Motta also featured. 

Right-back Motta, who has been without a club since being released by Watford during the summer, has arrived on trial ahead of a possible move to Loftus Road.

The 29-year-old made nine Championship appearances for Watford last season and was a team-mate of Daniel Tozser and Gabriele Angella, who have since joined the R’s.

Motta’s other previous clubs include Juventus and Roma, and he has played once for Italy.

Mackie, sidelined since suffering a nasty hamstring injury in September, played 63 minutes of the match against the Royals, who won 4-2. Darnell Furlong scored the visitors’ other goal.

Massimo Luongo, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Samba Diakite, Michael Doughty and Michael Petrasso were also in the QPR line-up.

Mackie recently returned to training and wanted to be in the squad for Monday’s game against Huddersfield, but boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is keen for him to ease his way towards a first-team comeback.

“Jamie Mackie’s coming back,” the Dutchman declared after the Huddersfield match. “He’s training with the group and was very close to being on the bench.

“But he hasn’t played a match yet, he’s been out for 10 weeks, and it would have been a big risk for him. Jamie is somebody we have to pull back because he’s so full of life.

“I would prefer him to play a few games with the Under-21s first, so that he’s well conditioned, because I can’t afford to lose Jamie again for another 10 weeks.”

Meanwhile, James Perch is still recovering from the knee injury he suffered against Brighton two weeks ago.

“Perchy had a problem with his knee and is training with the physios at the moment,” said Hasselbaink.

“He has not joined the group yet. Hopefully he will be able to join the group ASAP.”