Laird ‘touch and go’ but Richards and Armstrong are back for QPR

QPR full-back Ethan Laird could sit out Saturday’s game at Luton after limping off against Reading last Friday.

The on-loan Manchester United defender complained of muscle tightness in the first half of the 2-1 win.

And with Rangers set to host Cardiff and then Wigan at Loftus Road next week, Mick Beale is determined not to rush Laird back.

“Ehtan will be touch and go,” R’s boss Beale said.

“With three games this week I need to use him wisely because he had some tightness and I have to decide whether I want to push him early in the week or have him available for the next two.

“It’s just tightness. It’s not a strain or anything like that and I have to wait for those symptoms to die down, which they pretty much have.

“But then what you expose someone to could return them to the same symptoms, or he could be fine. I just have to weigh up when to put him back in.”

Osman Kakay came on for Laird against Reading and set up Lyndon Dykes’ equaliser, while Leon Balogun is also an option at right-back.

“Leon is a centre-back who can play right-back. He once played there in an Old Firm game for Rangers and was man of the match and also played there twice there in Europe,” Beale said.

“Ozzy came on for last week and got an assist and did well in the game, and played well this season whenever he has played, and we have Albert (Adomah) who can play as a wing-back, so we are very fortunate.

“Over this week I’ll use the squad. I just need to make sure I get the decisions right.”

Chris Willock remains sidelined with a hamstring problem but Rangers have been boosted by the return to training of Taylor Richards and Sinclair Armstrong.

Richards, who has not played since coming on against Blackburn in the season opener, is expected to be in the squad this weekend.

“Sinclair came back into training on Tuesday. He then came to one side to do a bit more fitness as he has missed a few weeks,” Beale said.

“My options are big in terms of the squad.”