Warburton confirms Sanderson will start for QPR

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Mark Warburton has confirmed Dion Sanderson will make his first league start for QPR in Saturday’s game against Hull as Rob Dickie starts his two-match suspension.

Dickie picked up his 10th booking of the season in the 2-0 defeat at Millwall and will also sit out Tuesday’s encounter with Blackpool.

Sanderson, who joined on loan from Wolves last month, spent the first half of the campaign at Birmingham, where he impressed Rangers boss Mark Warburton in his side’s two wins against the Blues.


QPR were set to announce Steve Cook had signed from Bournemouth following that 2-1 win at St Andrew’s only for Nottingham Forest to hijack the move for the experienced centre-back, forcing them to look elsewhere.

After Wolves recalled Sanderson from his stint with their West Midlands rivals, Warburton moved to bring the 22-year-old to W12 and believes he’ll fill in seamlessly on the right side of the back three for Dickie, who misses his first game since a 3-2 win over Rotherham in November 2020.

Sanderson played on the left during his spell at Birmingham and also in the FA Cup tie at Peterborough earlier this month, but will revert to his more natural position on the right as Rangers look to return to winning ways against Hull following successive defeats.

“He brings physicality, aggression, is technically sound is quick and pacy and is a real athlete,” Warburton said.

“He played against us on the left-hand side and was quick and strong and will slot in alongside Jimmy (Dunne) and I have no hesitation in using him and was delighted to get 90 minutes into his legs at Peterborough.

“He was very strong in the game at Birmingham. Early on Lyndon (Dykes) left one on him, for want of a more technical term, and he gave one straight back.

“He was strong, quick and good on the ball and made good decisions and looked very composed. Hence our desire to sign him.”

Sam McCallum or Moses Odubajo could slot into the left wing-back slot on Saturday, with Lee Wallace to miss out after suffering a minor groin injury against Millwall.