Boxing Day Team News QPR v Swansea City EXTRA EXTRA !
Saturday, 26th Dec 2020 10:51

Traditionally the favourite day in the football calendar for an away day as far as fans are concerned, today’s game will see a pretty much unpopulated Loftus Road as the swans look to return to winning ways away from home.

It’s Boxing Day folks, seasonal greetings to all our readers, here is an update on team news for today’s game which kicks off at 3pm.

Queens Park Rangers
The Rs are winless in seven Championship outings but Warburton has claimed he isn’t feeling the pressure, as his side host Steve Cooper’s high-flying Swans today.

But Warburton will have to do it without up to four first-team players today — Luke Amos, Charlie Owens, Lee Wallace and Osman Kakay. Amos is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a serious knee injury, likewise with Owens. Wallace remains sidelined having missed the last five outings now, whilst Kakay has missed the previous two having picked up an ‘impact injury’ v Reading earlier in the month, and remains doubtful. QPR go into today’s game in 19th-place of the Championship table. They’ve endured a torrid time of this season, in what is Warburton’s second full-semester in charge of the Rs.

Swansea meanwhile are enjoying another solid showing after snatching their last play-off spot last season, sitting in 3rd-place of the table going into today and with the chance to leapfrog Bournemouth into the top-two spots.

At home, QPR have claimed 13 points from 10 Championship games.

A contested home form has been QPR’s downfall this season and that’ll give Swansea hopes as they head across to West London. Warburton though will be hoping that his side can pull off a shock and take the result, as he looks to solidify his post at the club.

Steve Cooper on QPR
“They are a good footballing team and they’ve got players that on their day can be really dangerous and they are at home,” said Cooper of the Rs. “This league, every game is difficult, in one way, shape or form. “As always, the approach has to be to try to bring our game to the table as much as we can. “It’s about attitude and commitment and trying to make sure we hit the ground running from the first whistle.”

Total commitment required today

Yan Dhanda on his time at Swansea
My journey at Swansea has just got better and better and I think in the next few weeks and months it’s going to get even better again. I know there is still more to come. “Everyone who plays in England wants to be playing in the Premier League and I really believe we have the squad and staff to get there. I can’t see why we can’t be there next season. We were away last Christmas too so to be honest I was hoping we’d be at home on Boxing Day this year. Unfortunately, we’re away again and I do hate it to be honest. Christmas Day is the one time everyone gets together and spends time together. I do look forward to it and when the fixtures came out and I saw we were away I was gutted.”

The Swans head to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on the back of a strong opening few months of the season.

George Byers and Jordon Garrick are back in contention for selection following injury. Midfielder Byers could be involved for the first time this season after a troublesome groin injury, while winger Garrick has shaken off a niggle. Kyle Naughton remains a doubt with a side strain, while Morgan Gibbs-White is nearing his own injury return from a fractured foot.