QPR make the trip through London to take on West Ham in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday.
QPR are in the third round of the FA Cup this weekend, with West Ham looking to capitalize on the home side’s dismal form. The R’s will go into this match in a confident mood after a 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday last time out.
Top scorer Rumarn Burrell opened the scoring before Rayan Kolli’s brace came off the bench. The Hoops are eleventh in the table but are just four points away from the play-offs.
Adding an FA Cup run to an already promising campaign will intrigue head coach Julien Stephan. The boss expect a tough test against Premier League opposition despite their struggles.
West Ham are 18th in the Premier League and have lost five of their last six games, remaining scoreless in 10.
QPR team news
QPR may have cruised to a comfortable victory over Sheffield Wednesday, but they came out of the game with a few running injuries. Three players withdrew from the action and the club has a full update about the pile injury issues ahead of the draw with West Ham.
The aforementioned talismanic Burrell was among those forced to leave. He required further assessment but is not expected to be fit to return until March.
Jonathan Varane and Kwame Poku also played against the Owls. The former has suffered a mild knee sprain and is aiming for a return later this month, while the latter may not return to training until February due to a new hamstring problem.
Liam Morrison had to drop out during the warm-up after receiving a blow. Fortunately, that was just a precaution and he should be back with the group next week.
Ilias Chair and Jake Clarke-Salter were absent from Saturday’s squad and the R duo continue their rehabilitation with a view to returning next month.
Predicted XI
(4-2-3-1)
Hammer; Mmbangue, thin, cook, norrington-davies; Madsen, field; Dembele, Kone, Saito; Kolli
QPR’s injury problems mean there are only so many changes that can be made following the win over Sheffield Wednesday. Granted, there is room for more rotation, but Stephan seems to want to take the FA Cup seriously, so a strong squad needs to be fielded.
The back line remains unchanged, but Sam Field could slot in as a left back or even as a centre-back. However, in Varane’s absence, his combative nature may be needed in midfield, leaving Isaac Hayden behind who would also be a solid selection.
Sam Field vs. Isaac Hayden – Stats 2025/26
| Player | Games | Assists | Minutes played |
| S. Field | 15 | 1 | 822 |
| I. Hayden | 13 | 1 | 478 |
Further forward, Karamoko Dembele seems the most likely replacement for Poku on the right. Richard Kone can take on a slightly deeper role in attacking midfield, while Koki Saito retains his place on the left.
Up top, top prospect Kolli gets the nod in Burrell’s absence following his brace against Wednesday.
The likes of Kieran Morgan, Harvey Vale, Paul Smyth and Daniel Bennie could also find opportunities. However, they can start on the Hoops bench in East London.
The clash between West Ham and QPR starts at 2.30pm and will be broadcast as on TNT Sports and Discovery+.
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