QPR strikers Jamie Mackie and Ishmael Miller are both turning their attentions towards the summer and next season, but for very different reasons.
Miller has scored one crucial goal in four starts and five sub appearances since arriving at QPR on loan from West Brom in January. His three month spell with QPR runs up to and including the East Monday home match with Hull and although Neil Warnock stated at the time that he would like to extend that for the full season and then sign him permanently in the summer there has since been a change of manager at The Hawthorns and any talk of another deal has gone quiet.
Ishmael Miller told Sky Sports: “I've had a lot of injuries, which have stalled my career back at West Brom a little and I just needed something to inject a bit of confidence back in my game. It was nice to get the phone call from Neil Warnock and he is a great guy at a great club, so I couldn't really say no to be fair. West Brom have got a great squad there, with a new manager in place since I left, but I was happy there and I am happy here, so I'm not sure what will happen this summer. They could change divisions this summer, but hopefully West Brom can stay up and be joined by QPR next season. I'm not really thinking about my long-term future now because I'm just happy to be playing games again. I'm not putting any pressure on either club to make a decision and I will be happy to be playing at either club next season.
"I'm just hoping that I stay injury free and have a good end to the season here, with promotion at the end of it because I've had a bad couple of years. I'm over them now and hopefully I can play my football without picking up any major injuries because I've had enough of them recently. Obviously, there will be the odd niggle here and there, but as long as I stay away from the long-term injuries I'll be happy. It was difficult to get myself going and in the team back at West Brom because when you are injured for a long period of time you tend to fall off the radar, so this opportunity was great for me."
Meanwhile striker Jamie Mackie says he hopes to be back to full fitness in time for pre-season training after breaking his leg in the FA Cup game at Blackburn back in January. Mackie told QPR Player: “"They try not to give me targets, but they reckon in pre-season I'll be as fit as anyone else and raring to go and I'd love to be a Premier League player."
One of QPR’s other long term absentees Lee Cook will join Martin Rowlands in a QPR reserve side that is due to play Fulham at the Harlington training ground on Tuesday afternoon. Cook has only made one brief substitute appearance this season as he continues his four year long struggle with knee injuries.
Rangers are set to welcome a number of players back from international duty this week ahead of Monday night’s televised game with Sheffield United at Loftus Road. Kaspars Gorkss played, captained and scored for Latvia against Israel but they were beaten 2-1 in a Euro 2012 qualifier. Heidar Helguson played 90 minutes for Iceland in a 0-0 draw away to Cyprus, Adel Taarabt played just over an hour for Morocco as they lost 1-0 to Algeria in qualifying for the African Cup of Nations.
Mickey Adams has told the Sheffield Star today that his struggling Blades outfit have nothing to fear at Loftus Road. Adams said: “I don’t think we have to fear anyone. Getting the better of two clubs in the hunt when it comes to the play-offs shows what we can do. We weren’t lucky (against Leeds and Forest) either. Both those victories reflected what happened and that, hopefully, will fill the lads with confidence. We know the challenge that’s ahead. But the boys also know now what they can achieve. It’s not going to be easy between now and the end of the season. But equally, these games have shown that it’s not over, not by a long chalk.”
Finally youth teamer Elliott Cox has joined Conference side Histon on loan until the end of the season.
Paul Hart remains confident of steering Swindon clear of danger, despite a weekend defeat at Brighton leaving them seven points clear of safety. Hart has failed to win any of his first five games in charge, and Swindon are without a win in 16 matches in total dating back to January 3. They are currently second bottom of League One where four teams are relegated each year.
Hart said: “There was not a lot between the sides in this game and it's all about who holds their nerve from now until the end of the season. I feel we are making progress. Our performances have steadily improved, we are looking OK at the back and it gives you a platform to build on. What gives us hope is to come to a place like Brighton and play them at their own game.”
- Scunthorpe could be set to appoint former captain Alan Knill as their new manager. Knill is chasing promotion from League One with Bury and has previously managed Rotherham but seems keen to move to Glanford Park where he spent four years as a player. He said: “It's flattering as they're a Championship team and there are eight games left in the Championship to stay in it. Unfortunately, sometimes opportunities come along and you have to make decisions that aren't easy or popular."
- Bristol City will be without on loan Spurs defender Steven Caulker for the rest of the season because of a knee injury, Caulker scored an injury time equaliser for City against QPR in January and has been a revelation during his season long loan spell. Louis Carey is also sidelined with a head injury leaving the Robins short of cover at the back.
- Coventry, two places and six points outside the relegation zone without a win in 16 matches and still looking for a new manager, have been plunged into further chaos with Ray Ranson stepping down as chairman. Former Southampton director Ken Dulieu has taken over from him. Defender Jordan Clarke has also become embroiled in an ugly online row with fans who were angry at his Tweets about having a great day as the boardroom situation unravelled. He told followers: ““I enjoyed my day because I’ve got a life. I can’t do nothing about what goes on with the board so why worry myself about it?”
- Reading boss Brian McDermott was pleased with midfielder Brian Howard’s reaction on the pitch after a proposed loan move to Southampton fell through. He said: Southampton made a call to me about him, but they never followed it up. So, he played against Barnsley and did very well and we are very delighted that he is still with us until the rest of the season at least and then we will see what happens in the summer."