Hoop Dreams - QPR FC

Jim Magilton is turning into the Harry Redknapp of the Championship with the amount of wheeler-dealering (?) he has done in the last three weeks. Most of the movement in and out of Loftus Road has been in the form of loans and short-term ones at that, so Rangers fans aren't seeing the green shots of an Abrahamovich-style splurge, but the deals could be of value to the club all the same.

The latest move is from Loftus Road to Elland as winger Hogan Ephraim, who has been missing for most of this season with an ankle injury, heads north to current League One toppers Leeds United. It's a one month deal and he can't play in the FA Cup for Leeds this weekend. Magilton commented on how much this can help Ephraim in allowing him enough competitive football to recover fully following his lay-off. Whilst it does demonstrate that the player wasn't in the manager's immediate first-team plans, to play in a successful team with a relatively high standard of players could be a massive boost for Ephraim and as the manager also said, he could provide much stronger competition for a starting place on his return.

Better that than playing in the very infrequent reserve matches. QPR had to organise a reserve friendly with Crystal Palace on Tuesday to make up for the lack of competitive fixtures until December. The side lost 5-3 with reserve manager Keith Ryan bemoaning the absence of professional linesmen. A number of potential first-teamers played. Defenders Peter Ramage, Damion Stewart and Fitz Hall all got a 65 minute run-out, Gary Borrowdale and Ephraim lasted 75 minutes and Matteo Alberti, Alessandro Pellicori and Patrick Agyemang played the whole game, with the 'Pelican' scoring twice (substitute Sam Bewick provided Ranger's other goal).

One player who may soon need a few reserve games is Lee Cook. Another tricky winger, Cook hasn't featured all season for QPR due to a serious knee injury and he has been slowly on the road to recovery. He is now stepping up his rehabilitation out of the gym and running with the first team and said this week that he is well on target for his scheduled return date of Christmas.

There has been further excitement in a number of papers at the prospect of youngster Raheem Sterling departing QPR. The favourites for his signature are constantly shifting, from Liverpool (he went to a game there) to Manchester City (they will buy anyone) to now Arsenal (he maybe met with Liam Brady). There could be some truth in it of course and Arsenal certainly have a better track record of developing young players, though they can't find first-team places for most of their current crop of kids. QPR would get £750,000 initially plus further incentives should he be successful with the Gunners according to the Sun: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2744570/Sterling-effort-from-Gunners.html, so make of that what you will.

Marcus Hall won't play for Coventry in Saturday's game, he's out with a calf injury. More on Coventry and QPR's preparations to bounce back from defeat last weekend tomorrow. It could be a bumper weekend of football. After taking in what could be a surprisingly full Loftus Road on Saturday, Sunday, for those who look up a division, promises the Scouse derby and Arsenal-Chelsea, with El Classico later in the evening. Plus somewhere amongst that, there's the draw for the FA Cup third round on ITV. When Trevor Brooking or a stand-in is juggling balls in his hand, look out for number 31.