QPR manager Julien Stephan has confirmed that Richard Kone is fit enough to start and play a minimum of 45 minutes against Derby County on Wednesday evening.
Kone made his long-awaited return from injury after coming off the bench during last Friday’s 1-1 draw away to West Ham at the London Stadium.
The 23-year-old, QPR’s top goalscorer last season, originally picked up an injury against Middlesbrough last month and missed three league games against Charlton, West Brom and Preston.
He then made his return to action for QPR’s development squad against Bolton’s Under-21s but was substituted after just 30 minutes following a heavy challenge.
The Ivorian spent the extended international break recovering from the knee injury he sustained against Bolton, and returned to training last week before being named on the bench against West Ham.
After an injury-disrupted start to the campaign, Stephan is positive Kone is now close to full fitness, and said he is in contention to start at home to Derby.
“If he came on against West Ham and if he was able to play 20-25 (minutes), we can imagine he will be able to start,” Stephan said.
“It is a question of choice, like for all the other players, but when one player did not start for a long time and started to play 20-25, you can imagine he can play a minimum of 45.”
You can imagine he can play a minimum of 45
Julien Stephan on Richard Kone
Despite also coming off the bench against West Ham, Tariq Lamptey has suffered another injury setback, with an ankle issue set to keep him out for the visit of struggling Derby.
“Based on the last game, only Tariq Lamptey (is out), who had an ankle injury, and the medical staff will have to continue to assess him this week, but he will not be available,” Stephan continued before stating that they would know more about the severity of the injury at the end of the week.
“(We will) start to do the first scan at the beginning of the week and have to continue to assess him.
“We are only on Monday now, so they will have to continue to assess him probably across this week and at the end of the week we will have probably more clear information but what I can say now for sure he will be out for the next game.”
Injury update: Tariq Lamptey
PA
Striker Rumarn Burrell also remains sidelined after arriving back early from international duty with Jamaica but has begun individual training, while Ilias Chair is nearing a return to full team training.
Japan winger Koki Saito, meanwhile, is unavailable and has had his minutes managed since picking up an injury against Middlesbrough.
QPR have enjoyed a strong start to the season and are sixth in the Championship table after nine games.