Pete Hanson

Wed 4 October 2023 7:40, UK

QPR boss Gareth Ainsworth described himself as “gutted” to lose defender Morgan Fox prior to facing Leeds United on Wednesday (4 October) but does have the benefit of welcoming back two players to his squad.

Former Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City left-back Fox picked up a knee injury during QPR’s 3-1 defeat at home to Coventry City on Saturday (30 October).

Consequently, he will miss out against the Whites at Elland Road, much to the chagrin of Ainsworth.

“We have got some good options if Morgan is unavailable and we will go from there. I was gutted to see him come off as he played a big factor in the game. We need to make sure we look after Morgan and get him back as quick as we can,” Ainsworth said, in quotes reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post (4 October).

QPR are set to be boosted by the return of Jimmy Dunne, though, with the midfielder having yet to feature this campaign due to a shoulder injury sustained in pre-season. Jack Colback is also back in contention after serving a three-match suspension.

Time to bounce back

Leeds are still reeling from the weekend, where they suffered a 3-1 loss at Southampton at the St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday (30 September) in a result that no one really saw coming.

That defeat needs to act as a cautionary tale for Daniel Farke and his squad, against a side who head into this fixture in 22nd position and are widely expected to be among the teams battling the drop this term.

The loss of Fox is a significant one for QPR, with the full-back having accrued plenty of experience in the division and with the wealth of attacking talent at Leeds’ disposal, Ainsworth is understandably disappointed to not have him available.

Leeds have to take advantage of that fact, and they know that there is an onus on them to return to winning ways immediately to ensure the momentum they had built prior to the Saints setback is not completely lost.

In other Leeds United news, Graham Smyth has mooted a return for Luke Ayling against QPR.