QPR V Sheff Utd at Loftus Road Stadium : Match Preview

03 January 2015 23:01
QPR V Sheff Utd - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Redknapp looks set to rotate

QPR manager Harry Redknapp admits most of his veteran stars will have to sit out Sunday's FA Cup clash with Sheffield United because the Barclays Premier League survival battle has taken its toll.

Redknapp's ageing squad has been pushed to the limit in recent weeks, with six of the starting XI that drew 1-1 with Swansea aged 30 or older.

Rob Green, Richard Dunne, Clint Hill and Joey Barton have all featured heavily over the busy Christmas period and Redknapp admits he will have to make wholesale changes against the Blades.

"Some of the lads that have played can't play again - Richard Dunne, Clint Hill, Bobby Zamora," Redknapp said.

"I can't drag them out, it takes them a couple of days to recover from a game so I will have to change a few around for sure.

"We haven't got a big squad, we have 24 then three are keepers and four or five are injured. It's difficult to be as strong as you would like to be."

Redknapp added: "I'll play some of the lads who haven't been playing, I'll change it around again because there have been so many games.

"It's impossible really."

The FA Cup has suffered in recent years as teams increasingly prioritise the rewards of avoiding relegation and European qualification in the league.

"The cups always do suffer - even if you get to the semi-final or quarter-final, teams still rest key players," Redknapp said.

"The FA Cup was the competition when we were growing up but that's the way it's gone."

He added: "A few years ago everyone went for the cup but these days everyone is trying to get in the Champions League or into Europe or trying to stay in the division, so people mess around with their teams.

"The league, and staying in the Premier League, has become all important."

Manchester United's Louis van Gaal and Southampton's Ronald Koeman have criticised the congested nature of the festive calendar, insisting two games in three days is too difficult for players to manage.

Most clubs played on December 26 and December 28, typically going into action twice in barely 48 hours.

Redknapp said: "Something has to be done about the two games in two days but the Boxing Day game is difficult to do away with, it's a great tradition in this country.

"The fans love their Boxing Day football and it draws the biggest crowds of the year at any sporting event, so to do away with that is difficult."

Sheffield United midfielder James Wallace will return to the squad but defender Chris Basham is suspended.

Wallace has been struggling with groin and hamstring problems for much of the season but returned to full training this week and will be included in the 18-man squad.

Basham will start a three-game ban following his straight red card in the Boxing Day defeat at Port Vale and the Blades will also be without striker Chris O'Grady and defender Paddy McCarthy, who have returned to respective parent clubs Brighton and Crystal Palace.

Ben Davies (foot) remains sidelined, but defender Craig Alcock (back) and Ryan Flynn (hamstring) have both returned to training and could feature.


Source: PA