QPR trio set to return for Boro game

By

Chris Willock, Sam Field and Yoann Barbet are all set to return to the QPR side for Wednesday’s game against Middlesbrough.

The three players were rested for Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round defeat at Peterborough and Barbet’s recall against Boro will result in his 90th successive league start, a run that stretches back two years.


Rangers boss Mark Warburton denied giving the trio the weekend off was a reward for their good recent performances and insisted it was a case of keeping his squad as fresh as possible ahead of a taxing run of six games in 18 days.

“No player wants to be rewarded by not playing football,” Warburton said.

“They want to play every game and it was a case of looking after the squad – Sam Field coming back from surgery and doing so well for five or six games on the spin playing at the level he did.

“Yoann playing so many games and being so strong and ever present for us. It’s just giving them a break while we can.

“Yoann was great. He understands that we had to look at Dion (Sanderson) and if there was to be an injury to Yoann, who could potentially step in on that left-hand side.

“It allowed us to see Jimmy (Dunne) on the left, Rob (Dickie) in the centre and Dion got a good 90 minutes.

“Yoann is a top lad. I can’t speak highly enough about him and his character, so it was an easy conversation and we look forward to welcoming him back to the squad.

“You have to do what is best for the team. It’s like when a player has scored two goals and is on a hat-trick but the right thing is to make the change.

“That’s not to say it doesn’t cross your mind as we are all human. But as long as the team ethos dominates you are in a good place.

“We’ve used the squad, have a very strong squad, and there will be boys who are very good players that won’t be in the squad tomorrow night – and that’s a nice position to be in.”

With keeper Seny Dieng yet to arrive back in London after his involvement in Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph, David Marshall will continue in goal against Boro.