Saturday 13 December 2014 23:12, UK
QPR manager Harry Redknapp manager says there is room for Adel Taarabt in his squad and that he is not currently planning to offload the 25-year-old in January.
The mercurial Moroccan forward has been a key figure and fan favourite at times in his QPR career but has made just three Premier League appearances since returning in the summer from a loan stint at AC Milan.
And back in October Redknapp claimed Taarabt was “three stones overweight” while the player responded by saying he was being made a scapegoat for the club’s slow start to the Premier League campaign.
However, although Taarabt is injured at present, Redknapp says he will be welcomed back into the fold when he is available once again.
"It's up to Adel if he gets back into the team,” said Redknapp, ahead of Monday’s trip to Everton.
“Only he can get himself fit and ready to play. You can take a horse to water, but how far is the water?
"I don't look that far ahead to January 1, I just want Adel to get fit and start playing football. We need him fit and playing.
“If he's fit, he's back in he squad, I've told him that.
"I'll only be too pleased to have him involved. I don't hold grudges against him, I just want him fit.
"He's not training at the moment, he's back with the fitness coach. He's had a bit of a groin strain that he hasn't been able to shake off."
Redknapp is hoping to strengthen the QPR squad when the transfer window opens but says a loan signing is more likely than a big money move.
"We're not talking about spending massive amounts of money,” said Redknapp.
“Maybe we can get a couple of loans in.
"You're only allowed 25 players whatever you do. If a couple come in, we have to let a couple out. That's how it works.
"It's not a level playing field and never will be. There are probably seven teams up there at the top, then everybody else has to get on with it.
"But that doesn't mean that, on any given day, you can't beat those teams, because you can. We nearly beat Manchester City and were better than Liverpool on the day."
Watch Everton v QPR live on Sky Sports 1 at 8pm on Monday.
