Scowen injury concerns allayed as QPR boss explains substitutions

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QPR boss Ian Holloway insisted Josh Scowen was not substituted against Leeds because of an injury.

Grant Hall was brought on for his first appearance of the season despite only recently returning to training and amid fears he could require knee surgery which would rule him out for the rest of the campaign.

Midfielder Scowen picked up a knock and appeared to be struggling before being replaced by Hall with 12 minutes remaining. 

However, asked if Scowen had suffered a significant injury, Holloway said: “No, I was going to try and get Hally on there.

“It was really about where we were in the game. He (Scowen) had just taken two knocks and it doesn’t matter who you are, you’ve got to come off and sacrifice for the team if that’s needed and he’ll know that.”

Rangers’ 3-1 defeat at Loftus Road continued a miserable run of results.

Holloway also sent on winger Bright Osayi-Samuel and striker Idrissa Sylla as the home side tried in vain to avoid a fifth loss in six matches.

“It was about getting enough people up there – having two wide people who could run with it and get crosses in in Pavel (Wszolek) and Bright Samuel,” Holloway said.

“I had all my strikers on there: Matt Smith, Sylla and Conor Washington trying to pin them back.”