The Queens Park Rangers manager is looking for a Premier League scalp in the FA Cup fifth round.
For the first time in 22 years, Queens Park Rangers will be playing in round five of the FA Cup and Steve McClaren believes his side can keep their run going.
The QPR manager will be hoping to cause an upset when Watford visit Loftus Road next Friday, with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs.
McClaren is a firm believer that the Rs can progress, but only if his players can turn up on the day.
“It’s the FA Cup and anything can happen,”McClaren told London Football News.
“We’re at home, its Friday night under the lights and it’s an opportunity for certain individuals and the team to show themselves against Premier League opponents.”
The Rs eased past Portsmouth in the fourth round replay on Tuesday, and McClaren will need to determine his strongest starting XI ahead of the Hornets’ visit.
So far, McClaren has rotated his side during the three FA Cup games, but it’s imperative he prepares his best line-up to take on the challenge of the Premier League team.
The likes of Eberechi Eze, Luke Freeman and Nahki Wells will need to be at their very best to breakdown Watford’s defence, whereas the likes of Joel Lynch and Jake Bidwell will be vital in QPR’s own back line.
It’ll be interesting to see what McClaren does in terms of Grant Hall, who has been superb in the two cup games his played in. The centre-back has been plagued with injuries over the past two years but is on the cusp of a first-team return.
Barring new injuries or suspensions, Rangers will give themselves every chance of progressing to the last eight for the first time since 1995. But only if they play to their strengths, something of which McClaren will need to oversee and enforce on the day.
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