Bottom-of-the-table Queens Park Rangers will search for their first Premier League win in their London derby against West Ham United.
Injury problems remain for Hughes; Carroll could return
Bottom-of-the-table Queens Park Rangers will search for their first Premier League win of the season in their London derby against West Ham United on Monday night.
Mark Hughes is coming under scrutiny after a host of summer recruits have so far not transformed into instant success and have only collected two points.
QPR were also knocked out of the Capital One Cup last week by Reading and, while a number of injuries have been a factor, there is a disappointment at Loftus Road.
Sam Allardyce's West Ham will therefore make the short journey in London hoping to take advantage of their capital neighbours' poor start to the season.
And the Hammers look set to be boosted by the speedy return of England striker Andy Carroll from a hamstring injury.
Carroll has been missing for almost a month after limping out of his debut against Fulham and it was thought the Loftus Road clash would come too soon for his return.
But Allardyce revealed on Monday afternoon that he expected the on-loan Liverpool striker to play, with the Hammers eager for some added firepower.
Last season's Championship play-off winners have lost just once in their five matches back in the Premier League but they have drawn their past two games.
West Ham, who were themselves dumped out of the League Cup after being defeated by Wigan Athletic, have also failed to score in five of their last six visits to Loftus Road and QPR have won six and lost none of the last eight home games against the Hammers.
Allardyce also has a terrible record against Hughes having won just two of 11 meetings, although this will be their first where one or other has not been Blackburn Rovers boss.
