Harford Advising Hull...QPR Injury Update

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Hull Daily Mail - Axed boss is City spy
City's Phil Brown has been gaining insider information from axed QPR boss Mick HarfordPHIL Brown insists QPR's Italian revolution will hold no fear for Hull City after gaining "insider info" from Mick Harford - the man Rangers axed four days ago.
QPR sit second bottom in the Championship and sacked Harford on Monday, favouring untried Italian Luigi De Canio to revive their fortunes.
The former Napoli and Udinese coach takes charge of his first game in English football tomorrow when the Tigers travel to Loftus Road.
But Brown has sought advice from De Canio's predecessor in a bid to plot the downfall of QPR and insists the Tigers have no reason to fear their opponents.
He told the Mail: "I've spoken to Mick Harford on two or three occasions this week to pick his brains on what's been going on at QPR.
"I saw the video of them against Charlton last weekend and was more than impressed with how the players were playing for him.
"It could go either way in the QPR camp after Mick's dismissal. They may be a bit disappointed that their manager was overlooked but then, they might be trying to impress the new man.
"We're going to QPR confident knowing that we can win the game. They should not hold any fears for us."
Henrik Pedersen has failed to recover from minor knee key-hole surgery in time to play.
"There were one or two complications in the operation that has extended his time out but we're hopeful of getting him back to full training next week" Brown said.
Caleb Folan travelled as part of a 19-man squad to City's London base this morning and although he will not start the game, he may be handed a place on the bench.
Jay-Jay Okocha has declared himself fit to play from the start while Dean Marney will also return from his one-game ban. Hull


HULL OFFICIAL SITE - MATCH PREVIEW
We'll Concentrate On Ourselves' - Brown
Posted on: Fri 02 Nov 2007

Phil Brown says he will make sure his side concentrate on nobody but themselves when they take on Queens Park Rangers tomorrow.

With new manager Luigi De Canio set to take charge of his first game, the Tigers are likely to face a buoyant Rangers side at Loftus Road and although Brown admits there will be an element of heading into the unknown, he'll be sending his players out with the right attitude.

"The key is very much to concentrate on ourselves," said Brown.

"At half time in the Sheffield United game I was asking are we losing because their system is beating ours?


"Of course that wasn't the case. It was a case of us giving the ball away too cheaply. If you do that, your system will struggle.

"We've been working on passing this week and making sure we maintain the ball in key areas.

"The fact that QPR have a new manager makes it an unusual trip and we're going into the unknown a little bit in terms of how he will approach the game tactically and what personnel he's going to use.

"We're talking about a team that's undefeated in four games and to go and get a 1-0 win at Charlton was by no means a fluke.

"I fully expected Micky Harford to get the job there, but it wasn't to be. Tomorrow could go two ways.

"It might be that the players wanted Micky to get the job and now he's gone they take their bat and ball home.

"Or it could be that the players are desperate to impress the new coach and they give a real performance. It will be an intriguing game."

Brown has already spoken this week about the selection dilemma he faces with the return of Dean Marney from suspension.

With Jay-Jay Okocha also in the frame, the City boss admits his headache isn't easing.

"We've got Dean coming back and Jay-Jay coming back. What system am I going to play? Which personnel shall I use?

"These are all decisions that have to be made and that's the reason I'm in the job.

"Manager's tend to complain about not having enough in their squad, but there's nothing wrong with ours.

"It's a good squad and we have strength in depth. When everybody is fit, it's all about picking a winning team and a winning formula."

Brown is still hopeful that Caleb Folan will play some part at Loftus Road and he's also pleased with the way the rest of his injured recruits are progressing.

"Caleb is working tirelessly to be able to play some part on Saturday, some part on Tuesday and some part a week on Saturday.

"John Welsh had 78 minutes in the reserves this week and came through unscathed and Ryan France has had the nod to start playing competitive football again in a week's time.

"Nick Barmby is going great guns on the training ground at the moment and everything is pointing in the right direction."
Hull

QPR OFFICIAL SITE - TALKING WOUNDED
R's Head Physio Paul Hunter has reported 'no fresh injury concerns' ahead of the visit of Hull City to Loftus Road on Saturday afternoon.
Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk this morning, Hunter said: "It's as you were on the injury front.
"We've had no new concerns since the victory against Charlton Athletic and we head into the home fixture versus Hull with a near fully-fit squad."
There is more positive news where Dexter Blackstock is concerned too.
The R's front-man, who has been ruled out of the last four Championship fixtures due a knee injury, is expected to return to full first team training early next week.
"Dexter is doing really well," Hunter told www.qpr.co.uk.
"He's back running and all things being equal, should be fit to return to full training in the early part of next week."
Simon Walton (fractured fibula) and Pat Kanyuka (thigh) remain sidelined, but the latter is well on the road to recovery, after he resumed light training earlier this week.
New loan signing Akos Buzsaky is in line to make his QPR debut, while Danny Nardiello could also feature, after overcoming a hamstring injury. QPR

Also: SquareFootball Assessment of De Canio Appointment "QPR take the obvious De Canio option"
See: SquareFootball