Queens Park Rangers head coach Martí Cifuentes has dampened expectations of Ilias Chair rediscovering his top form as the midfielder recovers from a back injury.
Chair was QPR’s star player last season as the Morrocan helped the Hoops to seal their Championship status with seven goals and eight assists. However, the 27-year-old missed the opening 10 matches of the 2024/25 campaign due to a back injury.
Cifuentes Urges Patience for Queens Park Rangers’ Chair
In recent games, Chair has gradually built up his game time as he continues his rehab from the injury. He returned for QPR’s 3-1 home loss against Hull – making a 16-minute cameo from the bench. Progress has been steady and the former Stevenage player came through 80 minutes without any issues last weekend as the Rs held Burnley to a goalless draw.
Providing an update for QPR’s official website, Cifuentes explained that Chair needs time to get back to his previous level. However, the Spanish coach believes the midfielder will rediscover his top form when he recovers to full fitness.
I have said before that it will not be that easy that when Ilias comes back he will be our saviour, he will score a hat-trick in every game because that is not the reality of a player that has been off for three months, it is not the reality of this league for any player.
We need to help him, the same way that he has helped the team and is helping the team, already.
He is working a lot and getting into the pace. I have said many times he is one of the best players in the league and he will be again.
QPR have struggled for form early in the 2024/25 Championship campaign, winning just once in their opening 12 matches and sitting 23rd in the table. The West London outfit ended a recent four-match losing streak with a 1-1 draw against Coventry before the 0-0 stalemate at Turf Moor last time out.
Writer’s View
QPR are among the lowest scorers in the Championship this season and crying out for a spark of creativity. Chair provided this last season and he probably will give the Rs a lift when he gets much-needed game time under his belt. However, it appears that Cifuentes is erring on the side of caution for now to protect his key player in case of another potential relegation battle.
