Blackstock, Kanyuka and Walton: Injury Update

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QPR Official Site - TALKING WOUNDED
R's head physiotherapist Paul Hunter was in upbeat mood following the returns of Dexter Blackstock and Pat Kanyuka to Reserve team football last night.
Both players got 45 minutes under their belts in the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace Reserves at Loftus Road.
"It was great to see the two lads back in action," Hunter told www.qpr.co.uk.
"I obviously know what Dexter can do, but it was my first opportunity to see Pat in action since my arrival in the summer."
Kanyuka's injury woes started at Molineux in late April, when he was forced off with a thigh injury in his left leg.
To compound his woes, the 20 year-old then tore his main thigh muscle off the bone during a pre-season training session and was forced to undergo an operation.
Months of rehabilitation followed for the big defender, before he finally made his comeback in last night's Pontins Holiday's Combination League fixture.
"Pat has been out for a very long time and as such, we have to take extra precautions with him," said Hunter.
"He's had a good period of training though and we'll gradually ease him back into it over the next few weeks.
"He looked quite sharp against Palace and it's another big step in the right direction for him."
Blackstock, meanwhile, has been missing from the R's first team squad for seven weeks, after he sustained a knee injury in the 4-2 defeat to Colchester United in early October.
Hunter again spoke positively about last season's top-scorer though, commenting: "Match fitness is completely different to training, but we saw enough from Dexter in the opening 45 minutes to know he'll be ready for Saturday, if required.
"We'll need as many bodies as possible over the next few weeks, especially over the festive period, where the games come thick and fast."
And there's more good news from the treatment table, with Simon Walton well on the road to recovery from the fractured fibula he sustained in our pre-season friendly against Fulham.
"Walts is doing his pre-season runs and progressing really nicely," said Hunter.
"The fracture has fully healed and he's now undergoing extensive fitness work.
"We're pushing him as hard as we possibly can and if we can get him back before Christmas it will be a massive bonus for both the player and the Club. Official Site