Pugh among contenders to replace departed Luongo

Posted Friday, August 09, 2019 by PA

QPR will have to change a winning midfield when they host Huddersfield after Massimo Luongo’s departure.

The 26-year-old Australian, who made 43 appearances for Rangers last season, left the club for Sheffield Wednesday on deadline day.

Marc Pugh made his debut as a substitute in last weekend’s 2-1 win at Stoke and is a contender to step up from the bench to replace Luongo, along with Olamide Shodipo or Matt Smith.

Manager Mark Warburton is also expected to be without full-back Lee Wallace again as he continues to work his way back from a hip injury.

Huddersfield striker Steve Mounie is likely to miss out once again as the relegated Terriers attempt to get their Sky Bet Championship campaign up and running.

Mounie is still working his way back to full match-fitness after being given time to recover from his exploits at the Africa Cup of Nations with Benin, and head coach Jan Siewert has indicated the game might come too soon for him.

Juninho Bacuna could be involved after returning to training following the calf injury which forced him to limp out of Monday night’s 2-1 home defeat by Derby.

Fellow midfielder Aaron Mooy has left the club on a season-long loan move to Premier League Brighton.