Jim Magilton has called for vocal support from the travelling 1200 QPR fans at Doncaster this weekend and is also said to be pursuing his former Ipswich charge Owen Garvan on loan.
Rangers have just 300 tickets left for Saturday’s trip to the Keepmoat Stadium, scene if a dire 2-0 defeat last season under Paulo Sousa. Magilton praised the support when speaking to QPR Player earlier today. He said: “Since I've come into the club it's been fantastic. There are more and more fans travelling and I think it's great. It's such an added bonus to the players. They have celebrated some great victories away from home this year. I am sure that the gospel spreads and it's down to us as a group to continue with our fine displays away from home and if we do that maybe we can get a few more.
“Competition is healthy. We've spoken from day one about competition in training and having a real competitive edge and that's continued and that's probably why so many people want to play. Everybody believes they have an opportunity to play and that has bore fruit with regards to our displays and our recent performances.”
Matt Connolly will hope to start the game at centre half after making a successful comeback from glandular fever in the win at Sheffield Wednesday prior to the international break. Connolly told QPR Player: “I did not realise how bad it was or how long it would take. The first two weeks I was quite shocked, then watched a lot of football and realised that I could learn and take things in from the sidelines. I didn;;t know much about it but lots of people have told me they have had it and it is not very nice. The doctor explained and told me plenty of facts about it, and Hunts the physio advised me to just keep in my normal routine, keep doing things, rather than laying down or staying in bed. I`ve got a long way to go I`m still learning, and I want to keep my place in the team every game and keep getting better and better. I think that`s the main thing to do now, to get my fitness and to be strong again.
“The next two are winnable games but then you look at Leicester and Palace at home and you would say they are winnable as well. We have to go into the game focused, especially against Doncaster who are a good football team, we’ll see if we can nick a point there, although we will be looking to win - a point minimum - and then win the home game against Coventry. They're not doing so well at the moment so it will be important to get the three points.
Lee Brown and Joe Oastler have extended their loans with Conference side Salisbury by another month to December 20. Oastler is currently out of action suffering with Swine Flu but both players have impressed manager Tommy Widdrington during their time there. The rumour mill has today linked Rangers with a move for out of favour Ipswich midfielder Owen Garvan. The Irishman, 21, was given his first team debut by Magilton at Portman Road and many Ipswich fans are baffled at Roy Keane’s continued ignorance of the player. Several Championship teams are said to be eyeing his situation, with a potential loan move on the cards, and QPR are likely to be at the front of the queue with injuries to Gavin Mahon and Martin Rowlands weakening the middle of the midfield.
Another player linked, although I maintain it is solely through the over active imagination of his agent, Richard Wood has been given permission to talk to another unnamed Championship club by Sheffield Wednesday. Coventry City are said to be favourites to land the centre back.
In former QPR news our one time goalkeeper Lee Harper, who made 132 appearances for Rangers, has been appointed as player manager of Conference side Kettering Town until the end of the season after the departure of Mark Cooper to Championship outfit Peterborough. Poppies Chairman Imraan Ladak told the BBC: “We have known for some time that Lee would be a future manager of Kettering Town. Lee is the outstanding choice to continue the incredible progress we made with Mark Cooper."
Another former QPR goalkeeper, Tony Roberts, has been named in the League Two team of the week for his work for Dagenham and Redbridge in their 1-0 win at Accrington on Saturday.
Former boss Paulo Sousa has urged Swansea fans to come and roar his team into promotion contention on Friday night when they face Derby County at the Liberty Stadium. Derby lost 6-1 on their last visit to South Wales against Cardiff and Sousa said: “A true Jack does not just come to the big games. They come and support us through thick and thin. We sold out the Liberty Stadium for the south Wales derby against Cardiff but it must not be a one off. The atmosphere against Cardiff was fantastic and when we needed our fans the most - when Cardiff came back to 2-2 - they were there for us. They spurred the players on when it mattered the most and made all of the difference between success and possible failure. Now we need the Jack Army to make the difference in every game. We need to fill the Liberty Stadium on Friday - and every game after that. That is my challenge to Swans fans everywhere."
Elsewhere in the Championship Middlesbrough have signed Stoke striker Dave Kitson on loan for two months. Kitson, who had seemed to finally be finding his feet in the Premiership with Stoke, will be reunited with former Reading team mate Leroy Lita in Boro’s faltering attack.