QPR striker Celar suffers suspected hamstring tear

Marti Cifuentes suggested QPR need to take steps to reduce their injury problems after Zan Celar joined the casualty list.

Celar went off against Norwich after suffering a potential hamstring tear – an injury which would sideline him for a lengthy period.

It comes with fellow striker Michael Frey, who has a calf problem, among the Rangers players currently unavailable, and means head coach Cifuentes’ attacking options are likely to be further diminished.

Kenneth Paal, recently back from injury, went off at half-time against Norwich because of what appears to be a minor hamstring problem.

Both Celar and Paal will be assessed on Sunday.

Rayan Kolli, who came on for Celar, scored his first two senior goals as the team won 3-0 to record a first home victory of the season and climb out of the Championship relegation zone.

Cifuentes said he was happy for youngster Kolli and hoped his goals would be “the first of many” but added: “On the other hand, I am very sad for Zan, because he comes from two very strong performances, scoring two important goals against Cardiff.

“It seems like a hamstring tear. We’ll see tomorrow. I’m not going to play doctor.

“He felt like it is a muscular tear. Let’s see. Hopefully we are going to get good news tomorrow.

“In the case of Ken Paal, he felt a hamstring as well during half-time. It felt like a minor injury. We didn’t want to risk it. Again, he will have tests tomorrow.

“This is something that we need to improve as a club. There have been too many injuries, it’s something I’m very worried about and I’ve been saying for a long time that it’s an area we need help and need to improve in.

“I felt there were some things we had to improve and perhaps some things in the past that perhaps we could do better.

“But it’s an area that the club wants to manage in a certain way. Let’s see what happens.”

While Karamoko Dembele is a long-term absentee with a knee injury, Ilias Chair and Frey appear to be close to  returning.

But Jack Colback, who was expected to return before now, is still struggling and Jake Clarke-Salter remains unavailable.

Cifuentes explained: “Now we’re at the stage where hopefully we are recovering some players.

“Illy I would say is getting closer. He will be the first one. Then Michy.

“Michy is quite close. We need to go step by step with that because it’s the second calf injury he has picked up. We need to be careful about how we do this.

“With Jack and Jake. we’ll see. I think it will take a little bit longer than Michy and Illy.”