Queens Park Rangers vs Bolton preview - Hulse missing for Rangers

Posted Saturday, August 13, 2011 by PA

QPR striker Rob Hulse will miss the Barclays Premier League opener against Bolton with a knee injury.

Hulse is three weeks away from recovery, but forward Jamie Mackie may soon come into contention as he continues his rehabilitation from a broken leg.

Otherwise manager Neil Warnock has a fully fit squad to select from, with Danny Gabbidon, DJ Campbell, Jay Bothroyd, Bruno Perone and Kieron Dyer all poised for debuts.

Warnock is struggling to hide his excitement at a return to the top flight - four years after he was controversially relegated while at Sheffield United.

"It hit home last Saturday how excited I am to be in the Premier League, after seeing the Championship kick-off," he said.

"It's been a hard-fought few years to get back since I was relegated with Sheffield United.

I'm going to enjoy every minute now I am back there."

Tuncay is unlikely to make his debut for Bolton.

The Turkey international is yet to be granted a work permit and will be forced to watch his new team-mates from the stands at Loftus Road.

Nigel Reo-Coker and Chris Eagles could both make their debuts in midfield but Tyrone Mears and Lee Chung-yong are ruled out with broken legs.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle is convinced Eagles is a better player now than when he snapped the midfielder up from Manchester United three years ago.

Eagles went on to make 143 appearances in three seasons for the Clarets, including a highly promising campaign in the Premier League.

The 25-year-old did well enough for Coyle to retain an interest.

And although the Scot decided not to raid his old club last summer when he was searching for reinforcements at Bolton, he went back to Turf Moor last month to snap Eagles up.

With the encounter with at Loftus Road now given the green light, Eagles is set to make his second debut for Coyle, with his manager adamant the player has made rapid strides.

"He is a better player now," said Coyle.

"That was three years ago and he has picked up a lot along the way.

"There is no doubt he has got better year on year. He is desperate to do well and he will get the opportunity to play here."

Having played an integral role in the development of Jack Wilshere and Daniel Sturridge over the last two seasons, Coyle knows a failure to make a mark at one of England's leading clubs should not necessarily be viewed as a failure.

Although the stays of Wilshere and Sturridge were short-term compared to the three-year contract Eagles has signed, and the latter man is substantially older, Coyle believes it is merely a question of the player finding his level.