QPR: Predicted XI vs Burnley

QPR return to Championship action on Sunday afternoon as they take on league leaders Burnley at Loftus Road.

After no football for a month due to the World Cup break, the Hoops will be looking to get their promotion push back on track with three points against the Clarets, in what is the first game following the exit of Michael Beale earlier this month.

While it seems only a matter of time until Neil Critchley is confirmed as the new man in charge at the west London side, interim boss Paul Hall will take charge of proceedings on Sunday.

Here is how Football FanCast expects the Hoops to line up against Burnley, with three changes from the side that started in the 2-0 defeat against Coventry in the last game ahead of the World Cup.

Dieng, Laird, Dickie, Dunne, Paal, Field, Iroegbunam, Dozzell, Roberts, Willock, Dykes (4-3-3).

After suffering a round-of-16 defeat against England with Senegal in Qatar, Seny Dieng has returned to Loftus Road and should be available to start in between the sticks on Sunday.

Kenneth Paal has impressed since joining the club in the summer, with WhoScored rating him as the third-best performer so far this campaign, so he replaces Jake Clarke-Salter at left-back.

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The former Chelsea man, who has been dubbed “absolutely outstanding“ in the past by Mark Robins, is not a natural at left-back but Hall might prefer Jimmy Dunne and Rob Dickie as his centre-backs against a physical Burnley outfit, with Ethan Laird keeping his place at right-back.

There is one change in midfield, as Tim Iroegbunam returns to the starting lineup in place of Taylor Richards, with Andre Dozzell and Sam Field completing a trio in the middle of the park.

Tyler Roberts could also make his return in attack, so he starts in place of Ilias Chair, who was unavailable due to Morocco’s progression in Qatar, as they defeated Portugal in the quarter-final on Saturday.

Chris Willock and Lyndon Dykes complete the front three, with both leading the way for goals in the Championship this season with six, so they will be crucial to QPR’s hopes of securing three points on Sunday.