Eight players are set to miss Southampton v QPR

Southampton and Queens Park Rangers are set to meet in the Championship on Tuesday, and both sides have encountered injury issues in recent weeks.

The Saints and QPR sit just four points below the play-off places, and would both love to have an opportunity to compete for a spot in next season’s Premier League.

Tonda Eckert’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by Charlton Athletic, who are managed by former Southampton boss Nathan Jones, on Saturday, whereas the R’s beat fifth-place Hull City 3-1.

Julien Stephan’s men and Eckert’s side will both have to establish more consistency to ensure that they can seriously trouble the likes of Wrexham and Birmingham City in the race for the Championship play-off places.

Meanwhile, starting with the hosts, Football League World names all the players who are set to miss Tuesday’s intriguing clash between the Saints and the R’s.

Jay Robinson

Jay Robinson has enjoyed somewhat of a breakout season this term, making 27 senior appearances across all competitions for Southampton.

However, thanks to fitness issues, the 18-year-old has not played since featuring as a substitute in January’s 1-1 draw with fierce rivals Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Speaking to BBC Sport ahead of the Saints’ draw with Charlton, Eckert revealed that Robinson had struggled with his quad and his injury would have to be managed ‘over the next week’.

Mads Roerslev

Southampton seemingly pulled off a major coup in the summer market when defender Mads Roerslev joined them from Premier League outfit Brentford.

However, the 26-year-old has not made an appearance since the Saints defeated Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 in early November.

As reported by the Southern Daily Echo, Roerslev underwent surgery on an Achilles issue on Monday and is set to miss the rest of the season while he recovers.

Welington

Roerslev is not the only Southampton defender set to miss Tuesday’s clash with QPR, as 2025 signing Welington is also going to be absent through injury.

Discussing the left-back’s fitness with BBC Sport, Eckert said: “Welly is going to still take a couple more weeks with a muscle injury, not the best (news) but hopefully it won’t take too long.”

Rumarn Burrell

Moving on to QPR’s absentees, striker Rumarn Burrell has not made an appearance for the West London outfit since scoring in an early January triumph over Sheffield Wednesday.

As reported by BBC Sport, the 25-year-old has been ruled out until March after landing awkwardly when going for a header in the aforementioned win over Wednesday.

Justin Obikwu

Justin Obikwu has yet to make his QPR debut since joining Stephan’s side on a permanent deal from Coventry City last month, meaning that his last appearance came when he was on loan with Lincoln City from the Sky Blues.

West London Sport have reported that an injury the 21-year-old picked up in training means he is set to miss the trip to Southampton on Tuesday, and could also be absent for the weekend’s clash with Sheffield United.

Ziyad Larkeche

QPR have become accustomed to coping without Ziyad Larkeche’s services this season, as he has been unavailable for selection since suffering an ACL injury back in August, as reported by BBC Sport.

The 23-year-old has not made a competitive appearance for Stephan’s side this term, as his last outing for the R’s came in a pre-season friendly defeat to West London neighbours Brentford.

​​​​​​​Karamoko Dembele

Burrell and Obikwu are not the only QPR attackers set to miss Tuesday’s trip to Southampton, as former Blackpool man Karamoko Dembele also remains absent.

As reported by West London Sport earlier this month, the 23-year-old has suffered ACL damage, meaning that he is set to miss the rest of the season and potentially the start of next term.

Kwame Poku

Kwame Poku’s QPR career has been a major disappointment so far, as the winger has been able to make just eight senior appearances for the West Londoners since joining from Peterborough United last summer, owing to various injury issues.

The 24-year-old has not appeared since his side met Wednesday on 4 January, and is due to remain absent for Tuesday’s away trip to Southampton.