By Dan Bennett
Mark Warburton is pleased with Macauley Bonne’s loan spell at Ipswich - and has not ruled out bringing him back to QPR earlier than planned.
Bonne has scored five goals in just six league games for the League One side since joining on a season-long loan deal in the summer following a difficult spell at Rangers last season which saw him net just three times in the Championship all season.
He can be recalled in January, although Rangers manager Warburton currently has other options.
“We’ll see how we go," Warburton said.
“I don’t think anyone would say that Lyndon Dykes, Charlie Austin, Andre Gray and Chris Willock are bad options to have.
“Players need to play. If Macca was here today, for example, and comes off the bench alongside Charlie, Andre or Lyndon, does he benefit more from being out on loan and playing or by sitting on the bench in the Championship?
“His job is to go out and score goals and he’s doing that, I’m delighted to see him doing that. That’s the idea of a good loan. He goes out and gets pitch time, gets opportunities, and he takes them.
“Every time you move up, it’s a different level, so that was the idea of the loan. I’m happy with the loan and delighted for him. Hopefully he carries on going.”
Meanwhile, fears Stefan Johansen picked up a hamstring injury against Bristol City have been allayed.
The influential midfielder struggled to finish Saturday’s game as Rangers were beaten 2-1 after a stoppage-time Nahki Wells winner for the Robins.
It turned out Johansen was in pain because of cramp rather than anything more serious - much to Warburton’s relief.
“He’s fine. He just had a bit of cramp,” said Warburton.
“I must admit my heart went a little bit when I saw it because I thought it looked like a nasty hamstring injury.
“But it’s quite high up and it was just a nasty cramp."
Johansen is not expected to be involved in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup tie against Everton.
"It's been three games in a week now and I haven't had that for a while," Johansen said on West London Sport's YouTube channel.
"But it's no problem. I'm fine to go."
Luke Amos is being lined up for return to first-team action after his long-term knee injury, while defender Jimmy Dunne is among the fringe players also likely to feature.