Premier League preview: Newcaslte v QPR

Mark Hughes will begin his stint in charge of Queens Park Rangers with a tricky trip north to Newcastle’s Sports Direct Arena on Sunday.

Hughes was appointed QPR boss on Tuesday after his predecessor Neil Warnock was sacked two days earlier.

Following managerial stints at Blackburn, Manchester City and Fulham, Hughes will be keen to inspire his squad to put in a good performance in the new era for the Londoners.

Newcastle will be looking to consolidate their already prosperous position of seventh spot in the table, just four points from fourth-placed Chelsea and well clear of any relegation danger.

Both sides will be missing key players from their most recent Premier League outings, with former Newcastle hero Joey Barton a notable absentee for QPR, as he serves a three-game ban for his red card in their 2-1 loss to Norwich City.

Newcastle, however, will feel the loss of star striker Demba Ba, who has fired in 15 league goals this campaign, as the Senegalese front man serves for his country at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The absence of Ba will come as a relief to Hughes, as he embarks on shoring a Rangers defence that has shipped 35 goals in 20 matches, while averaging less than one goal per game.

QPR will have to penetrate a defence that champions Manchester United failed to trouble last time Alan Pardew’s men were in action in the league, with the Fabricio Coloccini-led defence clocking up their seventh clean sheet of the season.

It is their strength in defence and midfield – the latter controlled by Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye – that has seen Newcastle flourish this season, and they should have enough class to at least stretch QPR’s winless run in all competitions to 10 matches.

Hughes’ men, however, will be desperate to gain valuable points to climb the table, as they are just one point above the drop zone.

In further selection news, Ba is not the only attacker missing for Newcastle, as Peter Lovenkrands, Nile Ranger and Sammy Ameobi are all ruled out of action.

That leaves Leon Best and Shola Ameobi to lead the front line for the home side.

QPR have no fresh injury complaints, with former Newcastle man Kieron Dyer still on the sidelines recovering from ligament damage sustained on the opening day of the season.