Buzsaky returns, Hall out for a month, Connolly overlooked
Thursday, 28th Aug 2008 11:03

There’s good and bad news for QPR on both the injury and international front as one player prepares to return as another sits out, while one player prepares to jet off in the international week and another will be staying at home.

We’ll start with the good news - Hungarian midfielder Akos Buzsaky is back in full training this week for the first time since his summer ankle operation. With an international break coming up after this weekend’s game with Bristol City he has an extra week with the lads at Harlington to get back into the swing of things and is likely to make his return in the televised Southampton home match on September 14.

Buzsaky picked up the injury in March while playing for Hungary and twice made failed attempts to return to action at the end of last season before finally succumbing to surgery over the summer. The thought of a player of his quality coming into our hugely entertaining and creative midfield is certainly a mouthwatering one. He will play some part in the reserve game with Charlton next Tuesday.

Physio Paul Hunter told the club’s official website: “Akos is back in training and that’s a massive boost for everyone. We’re mindful that he’s not had a full pre-season and as a result he’s doing some extra fitness sessions with John Harbin.”

Broken leg victim Rowan Vine continues to make steady progress and is likely to be in contention for the match with his former club Birmingham City on October 4.

The bad news is Fitz Hall is likely to miss a month of action after injuring his groin against Doncaster Rovers. Hall’s time at Loftus Road has been blighted by various groin injuries but last season it was put down to a lack of pre-season training at Wigan and no first team action for the previous six months. He’s looked much fitter and leaner so far this season but has now suffered an abductor injury and is likely to be out until Norwich or Coventry away we understand.

Remember you can keep bang up to date with the current injury situation at the club with our constantly updated Dean Sturridge Memorial Injury List which is in the ‘on the pitch’ section of this site.

With the international break coming up we’re likely to lose one or two to call ups and Latvian Kaspars Gorkss is the first. Despite a difficult start to life at QPR the big centre half has been added to the Latvian squad against Moldova (September 6) and Greece (September 10). QPR return to action on September 14 against Southampton.

Matt Connolly however can count himself unfortunate in my view not to be involved with the England Under 21 set up again. Connolly has been outstanding at centre half in our last two matches and considering former R Michael Mancienne, who Connolly kept out of the centre half position at Loftus Road last season, is in the squad despite a poor performance in the friendly with Serbia last week Connolly is unlucky not to be included in my opinion. Another former R loanee Martin Cranie has also made Stuart Pearce’s squad.

Finally a reminder that the League Cup Third Round Draw (yes such a thing does exist) will be on Jeff Stelling’s programme on Sky Sports One this Saturday from about 12.15pm. Derby away please.