Skipper blow for R's opener

Skipper Martin Rowlands is suspended for QPR's Championship opener against Barnsley at Loftus Road on Saturday.

New boss Iain Dowie takes charge for his first competitive match and he will have to make do without Rowlands for the opening three matches, after his red card against West Brom on the final day of last term.

Loan signing Samuel Di Carmine also sits out with a one-game suspension carried over from playing for Fiorentina last season, while Rowan Vine and Akos Buzsaky are still recovering from a respective broken leg and ankle surgery so miss out.

Defender Matthew Connolly is struggling with an ankle problem, but new signings Peter Ramage, Kaspars Gorkss, Lee Cook, Emmanuel Ladesma, Matteo Alberti and on-loan Real Madrid starlet Daniel Parejo could all feature.

Dowie must also decide who will start between the sticks between Lee Camp and Radek Cerny.