Pawel Wszolek excelled against Peterborough United in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, and QPR must look ti the Polish winger to start at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
Queens Park Rangers haven’t lost their opening two league fixtures since their last Premier League stint in 2014, and with a trip to The Hawthorns looming, it’ll take Steve McClaren’s side a monumental effort to avoid a similar fate. West Bromwich Albion are the hosts, and although they lost their opening home game to Bolton Wanderers, Darren Moore’s men will be confident of taking all three points on Saturday.
QPR tasted victory over Peterborough United in the Carabao Cup during the week, and although McClaren has endured a bad start at the club, there were many positive performances for the manager to ponder ahead of the visit to the West Midlands. Right-winger Pawel Wszolek particularly impressed alongside Conor Washington, and both will be vying to start.
Wszolek didn’t feature against Preston North End or Sheffield United, and if QPR are to get anything from the Baggies, Wszolek’s inclusion will be key. The 26-year-old was a constant threat against Peterborough and took his goal very well, correcting his feet before slotting home from close range.
Defensively, Wszolek wasn’t troubled too often, but the Pole has previously occupied the right-back position, so he can handle himself at both ends of the pitch. QPR will likely have to soak up large amounts of pressure over the course of the 90 minutes, but it’ll be Wszolek’s contribution that could be key. He needs to be given the opportunity to start.
Rangers have lacked any real threat when attacking teams so far this season and with chances expected few and far between, Wszolek can help unlock the West Brom defence. The recently-relegated Baggies have shipped five goals in their opening two games and McClaren must look to their defence as Rangers’ chance.
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Luke Freeman and Ebere Eze remain the obvious candidates who could provide a source for goals but Wszolek brings a different skill set to the table. If McClaren utilise’s the former Sampdoria man correctly, the west Londoner’s might just have a chance to snatch an unlikely result. It’s a tall order for QPR but if the likes of Wszolek and Washington feature – with the pair brimming with confidence – the Hoops give themselves their best opportunity.
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