Hoop Dreams - QPR FC

QPR suffered a significant injury blow at the end of last week when it was revealed that Gavin Mahon will be out for the next four months. Mahon, who worked wonders in recent weeks to replace QPR's captain Martin Rowlands who is out for the season, now joins his teammate on the treatment table with a knee injury. Mahon goes under the knife tomorrow and will then face a lengthy lay-off. QPR's squad size will be tested now, with the partnership of Alejandro Faurlin and Ben Watson likely to be crucial in making up for the absence of both Mahon and Rowlands. 

The club are also in the hunt for goalkeeping cover as Manchester United loanee Tom Heaton left Loftus Road and has already found a new club at Rochdale. Heaton talked up his desire to remain at Rangers on a permanent basis prior to his return to Manchester and his move to Rochdale doesn't preclude that possibility yet. He will remain with the League One side until the end of December when Rangers could potentially attempt to sign him again. In the meantime, they could turn to experienced Aston Villa keeper Andy Marshall as cover for Radek Cerny.

Finally, two QPR players are probably wishing they'd stayed in west London over the last week rather than travel to turn out for their countries. Adel Taarabt couldn’t help Morocco as they fell to a 2-0 defeat against Cameroon. They finished bottom of their group with only three points so Adel won’t be lighting up the World Cup next summer. He won't be visiting Angola for the African Nations Cup in January either, which, if as is likely he is still with the club, will be welcomed by Rangers fans.

Akos Buzsaky had a relatively shorter trip to Belgium but in 45 minutes of football he couldn't help Hungary who eventually lost 3-0. Jim Magilton will just be relieved that both players are fit and well for the less taxing journey to Doncaster this Saturday. More on that fixture and all other QPR news throughout the week.