Premier League preview: QPR v Wigan

QPR entertain Wigan on Saturday in Mark Hughes’ second game at the helm as he bids to steer the London club clear of relegation.

Former manager Neil Warnock’s Rangers were treading water and despite never entering the mire they were sitting alarmingly close to the cusp of the relegation zone for all of November and December.

Warnock, a promotion specialist, was not seen to be the candidate to lift QPR to the lofty heights owner Tony Fernandes expects of it.

And as harsh as his sacking was it is thought he would not have been the right fit to manage the type of top tier players Fernandes is now trying to attract to the club.

Enter Hughes, whose pedigree as a player at Manchester United and top flight managerial experience with Blackburn, Manchester City and Fulham is expected to hold him in good stead.

His task is to now steer them clear of danger after their first-up loss under his guidance, to Newcastle in the league, saw them slump to 18th in the table.

QPR earned their first win under Hughes, and their first in the FA Cup for 11 years on Tuesday, as Danny Gabbidon’s header proved enough to beat a spirited MK Dons in the FA Cup.

Hughes has immediately set about bolstering his squad with Chelsea’s defender Alex and Sao Paulo starlet Henrique thought to be close to moves to Loftus Road.

“I think talks (with Alex) are ongoing. I spoke to the boy yesterday and went through what we’re trying to do here and my feelings towards him as a player,” Hughes said. “I have a huge regard for what he could do for us here.”

“(The Henrique transfer) seems to be progressing, we’re hoping to conclude that. He’s the type of player it would be good to attract to the club if we can.”

Another loss, to fellow struggler Wigan, who are languishing in last place, would not bode well for Hughes.

Roberto Martinez’s men are rooted to the foot of the table, four points behind QPR, after back-to-back losses to Manchester City and Sunderland.

But the Wigan boss has made his intentions clear through his treatment of striker Hugo Rodallega.

The Colombian has intimated about a move to another Premier League club and is out of contract at the end of the season, but Martinez, knowing Rodallega’s value to Wigan’s survival push, has held firm knowing he could well leave on a Bosman in the off-season.

“It is much more important to keep Hugo playing for us until the end of the season than trying to cash in on him right now,” Martinez said.

“We want him to concentrate on his football and getting back to his best. Then we will have to see where we are at the end of the season.”