Queens Park Rangers’ bid to avoid relegation from the English Premier League has received a fresh setback after manager Harry Redknapp revealed that new striker Loic Remy has sustained a groin injury.
Remy, who joined the club from Marseille last month, missed Saturday’s 0-0 draw at home to Norwich City and Redknapp said he did not yet know the extent of the injury.
“He tore a groin muscle yesterday (Friday) in training. I have no idea at the moment how long he will be out,” said Redknapp.
“It was in the last minute of training, and he just struck a ball, felt it go. We will have to see how he is tomorrow and Monday, then take it from there.”
The stalemate with Norwich prevented QPR from making ground on their fellow relegation candidates, but Redknapp took heart from the performance of debutant Christopher Samba.
A club-record 12.5 million pound ($A19 million) acquisition from Anzhi Makhachkala on Thursday, the former Blackburn Rovers centre-back produced a typically imposing display to help QPR register a fourth clean sheet in five league games.
“Chris Samba was fantastic today,” Redknapp said.
“He’s not played since November. We asked him how he was and he said he was about 40 per cent fit. If that’s 40 per cent, I don’t know what he’ll be like when he’s 100 percent. He was outstanding.”
Redknapp also hailed midfielder Andros Townsend, who was named man of the match and almost claimed a late winner with a 25-yard strike on his first appearance since signing on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.
Adel Taarabt’s 56th-minute penalty was saved by Norwich goalkeeper Mark Bunn, but the QPR manager refused to criticise his Moroccan playmaker.
“That’s how it goes. Adel was outstanding again,” he said.
“It’s just one of those things. If we score, then we win the game, there’s no doubt.”
Reflecting on his side’s performance, he added: “I couldn’t have asked for more. We just needed a break.
“They gave everything. We just need to turn draws into wins and you don’t get a better opportunity than we had today.
“We’re unbeaten since the turn of the year so we’ve just got to keep going.”
Norwich have now gone eight league games without victory but manager Chris Hughton said he was satisfied by his side’s display.
