QPR v Birmingham City: Two ruled out and six doubtful

admin | March 22, 2024 | Other Clubs | No Comments

Birmingham City’s second season under Gary Rowett begins with a trip to Loftus Road to face QPR on Friday, Saturday, 29.

The 2023/24 Championship season is now paused due to an international break, and the timing is far from optimal. Players will be abroad with their various countries until Tuesday, March 26, and will have limited training time before an Easter double match.

The Blues’ game against the Hoops is crucial given the proximity between them, QPR, and the other teams struggling to avoid relegation. Here’s the most recent injury and team news before the game.

Birmingham City team news

Siriki Dembele missed the last few games due to a foot injury. He was observed limping about the training facility before Watford, but the international break should allow him to heal.

Keshi Anderson has struggled to make recent matchday squads, and now an injury has revealed. He has a knee injury, which is expected to be resolved by the time they face QPR.

Out: Alfie Chang. Doubt: Krystian Bielik, Marc Roberts, Siriki Dembele and Keshi Anderson.

QPR team news

QPR will be missing Taylor Richards, who hasn’t played much this season. The 23-year-old has made only five appearances this season, the last in mid-December.

Richards is recovering from a calf injury and is unsure whether he will be ready to play Birmingham. Since the Boxing Day defeat to Millwall, he has not appeared in a match day squad.

“Taylor got an injury in his calf on the last day in January,” revealed manager Marti Cifuentes to West London Sport.

“He’s on his way back. It was actually quite a big muscular injury and he’s recovering from that.”

He added: “We’re taking it week by week at this moment. It’s now getting to the last stage of the injury but it still might take some weeks – it’s difficult to say how many.

“We’re assessing him every week with the medical staff to make sure that when he’s back that’s he’s 100% ready to help the team.“

Moroccan midfielder Ilias Chair was substituted in the 63rd minute by Wolves loanee Joe Hodge. Some admirers questioned the move, while others speculated that he was nursing a knock.

Rayan Kolli, a right-winger, hasn’t featured for QPR since January. The 19-year-old has had a breakout season, appearing in 10 games, although he is currently out due to an injury.

Out: Taylor Richards. Doubtful: Ilias Chair and Rayan Kolli.