QPR get second opinion on Caulker and consider loan signing

Ian Holloway says QPR could look to sign a centre-back on loan after being told that Steven Caulker faces at least six more weeks on the sidelines.

Rangers sought a second opinion after a specialist suggested that Caulker have surgery on his hip.

Holloway says the club have now been informed that even without surgery the player is unlikely to return to action before March.

Manager Holloway, who has moved Grant Hall from centre-back to midfield, says he is therefore considering his options and could make a signing.

“We’ve sent him to a different specialist,” Holloway said.

“The last one wanted to cut him open and release a tendon in his hip. He couldn’t find what was wrong and the last resort was to release a tendon.

“We didn’t agree with it. We took him to someone else and now we’ve got a six-week plan.

“Hopefully it works for the boy because I tell you what: I’ve never seen anyone look so down.”

Tottenham youth product Caulker played for England in 2012 and was rated as one of the country’s best prospects.

But his career has been on a downward trajectory since, and Caulker, who turned 25 last month, has not played since October.

Holloway said: “Everything that Steven does is going wrong for him at the moment.

“We’ve got to support him and get him going again, because what a fantastic footballer he is in both boxes.

“We started the season with him and boy could I do with him now.

“If I’ve got to wait six weeks then do I bring someone else in? Because at the moment, absolute bare bones.

“I really am down to the bare bones, because we haven’t got any centre-backs in the Under-23s.”