QPR vs Swansea preview - Hughes expecting better season

Posted Saturday, August 18, 2012 by PA

QPR manager Mark Hughes believes the summer transfer dealings at Loftus Road give the club a chance to improve on last season.

A 17th-placed finish after spending somewhat lavishly on players meant an overhaul of the squad during the off-season with Hughes bullishly saying at the back-end of last year the club would not be in a similar position as long as he was in charge.

Hughes is now happier with the players at his disposal and despite admitting the Barclays Premier League is a difficult division the Welshman wants an improvement by May.

"We have set ourselves targets in terms of points and what we want to achieve," he said.

"I think it is important that certainly we improve on the position we were able to achieve last season it was too close for comfort for everyone involved with QPR and we don't anticipate that is going to be the case this year.

"We are fully aware that the Premier League is a very difficult league but I feel, and the whole club from top-to-bottom feels, that the quality that we have been able to bring in means we won't find ourselves in the same position."

Hughes will not name his new captain until he announces the team for the clash at home to Swansea.

Hughes has a number of candidates to take over from Joey Barton - who is serving a 12-match ban for his dismissal in the final match of last season against Manchester City.

Jonathan De Guzman is one of five new arrivals at the Swansea so far this summer, along with Michu, Chico Flores, Itay Shechter and Kyle Bartley.

But Scott Sinclair's decision not to sign a new contract has rocked the club less than 48 hours before the season starts.

The south Wales side are thought to be close to a deal to bring in Valencia's Spanish international winger Pablo Hernandez, and De Guzman believes he would be an ideal replacement with Sinclair likely to be sold before the end of the transfer window.

"He would be a great signing. He's a very good player, creative and fast," said De Guzman.

"I've played against him in La Liga where he was one of the key players for Valencia

"Every time I saw him play he impressed me.

"He's creative, he's fast and he can score goals from the left wing."