QPR v Newcastle preview: Magpies in search of vital win

QPR are missing Sandro because of the Brazilian midfielder's ongoing visa issues. Defender Nedum Onuoha is available after missing the 6-0 drubbing by Manchester City due to suspension. Playmaker Adel Taarabt and defender Armand Traore will not be considered for selection due to concerns over their fitness.

Daryl Janmaat returns to the Newcastle squad after suspension as the Magpies attempt to secure their Premier League status. The Holland full-back is available after serving a one-match ban, although fellow defender Mike Williamson will sit out once again after picking up his second red card of the season at Leicester, the same game in which Janmaat was dismissed. Striker Papiss Cisse (knee) and winger Rolando Aarons (hamstring) are fit, but midfielder Siem de Jong (thigh) and frontman Adam Armstrong (calf) will be missing after joining keeper Rob Elliot (thigh), defenders Steven Taylor (calf/shin) and Massadio Haidara (knee) and midfielder Cheick Tiote (also knee) on the sidelines.

John Carver: "The last four or five months, I've learned an awful lot, and that's what it's all about. The fact I've been given the time to learn from different situations, I think it's very important . The one thing is, I'm looking forward to this weekend because there's a huge challenge in front of us, there's a bit of pressure on us and we have to be able to embrace that pressure and deal with the challenge ahead of us."

Chris Ramsey: "I think a lot of players are generally good eggs but there are a lot of players that look at the game as a meal ticket and don't understand the implications of not performing correctly. For instance, when you get relegated there is a significant decrease in the revenue that comes into the club. That might mean that the person who works in the shop has to reduce their staff. It might mean that one or two programme sellers have to go. It might mean the tea lady that relies on her minimum wage and getting out of the house to have some friendship with people loses her job. What they don't realise is that most of the cuts happen at the middle to bottom end."

Queens Park Rangers have failed to find the back of the net in five of their last six matches against Newcastle United (one goal scored).

Newcastle United have won seven and lost none of their last nine league encounters with Queens Park Rangers.

The Magpies have gone nine Premier League games without a win (D1 L8), their longest wait since May 2009 (10 games), a season in which they were relegated.

QPR have conceded 67 goals this term; the most they have ever shipped in a Premier League season. Only in three other top-flight seasons have the R’s conceded more goals than in 2014/15 (1969 – 95, 1979 – 73, 1985 – 72).

Chris Ramsey is yet to win a Premier League game at Loftus Road as manager of QPR (D1 L5). He could become the first QPR manager (2+ games) to fail to win at Loftus Road in the Premier League.

Only QPR (9) have won fewer points in 2015 than Newcastle United (10).

74% of QPR’s points this season have arrived on home soil; the highest share in the PL.

The Magpies have scored more goals from substitutes than any other team in the top division (10).

Newcastle midfielder Jack Colback has scored or assisted nine goals this season (four goals, five assists); more than in his previous six Premier League campaigns combined (7).

Matt Phillips has made more assists in 2015 than any other PL player (7), though he has now gone four games without one.

Jack Colback, Newcastle - John Carver recently said if he had 11 Jack Colbacks playing for him then Newcastle wouldn't be in danger of going down. The former Sunderland man has been the one bright spark for the Magpies this season, and in a game that doesn't promise much, the midfielder may be the difference.

QPR (21/10), Draw (13/5), Newcastle (7/5)