Midfield injuries a worry for QPR boss

QPR manager Harry Redknapp was pleased to see his side rescue a point against Stoke but admitted injuries to his midfielders are a cause for concern.

Recent signing Sandro missed the 2-2 draw at Loftus Road because of a knee problem, while Joey Barton and Jordon Mutch were both taken off having returned to the starting line-up after their respective injuries.

Barton limped off just after the half-hour mark after aggravating a hamstring problem and Mutch was substituted in the second half, also with a hamstring injury.

It leaves Rangers potentially short of options for next weekend’s game at Southampton.

Redknapp explained: “Joey did his hamstring and so did Mutch. Sandro did his knee yesterday and I couldn’t even pick a team yesterday morning.

“They were all struggling, with Sandro having taken a knock too, and we took a chance with Joey.”

Peter Crouch’s goal against his former club looked like giving Stoke a victory, but Kranjcar picked himself up after the second of two awful challenges to score a brilliant equaliser.

Shortly after being flattened by Ryan Shawcross, the Croatian was fouled by Steve Sidwell.

Both players escaped with only yellow cards but Kranjcar had the last laugh.

“It’s a good point – a vital point make no mistake about it,” Redknapp insisted.

“We need to get everybody fit and if we pick up points as we go then we’ll be okay.

“It was a great finish by Niko. He’s got the quality to do that. When we got the free-kick I was hoping he’d pull the game out of the fire for us and he did that.

“They were two bad challenges and he punished them, which is good. Niko’s got fantastic quality and does that in training on a regular basis.”

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