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Given that QPR started the season with the strongest squad in the Championship, it is no real surprise that they currently find themselves at the top of the pile seven games into the campaign.

The result is that QPR are now as short as 13/8 to win the Championship and 4/7 to gain promotion by any means.

However, the strength of this squad is being tested at present, with a raft of injuries all landed on the doorstep of Harry Redknapp.

Goalkeeper Julio Cesar is set to be absent for eight weeks because of a broken finger, midfielder Esteban Granero may miss six months after rupturing knee ligaments, defender Nedum Onuoha injured a hamstring in the recent draw with Brighton and Niko Kranjcar arrived on loan with a small groin complaint.

The curse has now moved to the strikers, with Andy Johnson struggling with a knee problem and now Bobby Zamora could be out until Christmas.

This leaves Charlie Austin as the only fit striker, but the club are still working on the right methods of providing him with the best service.

More strikers are needed and Tottenham duo Emmanuel Adebayor and Harry Kane are two names to have been linked.

QPR have certainly enjoyed their fair share of Spurs loanees in recent seasons, with Kyle Walker and Andros Townsend both using the club as a profitable springboard, and Tom Carroll is now hoping to do the same.

The one problem is that QPR have done a better job at developing Tottenham’s youngsters than they have their own and there is the argument that their striker shortage is the perfect time to be allowing Tom Hitchcock more minutes.

Hitchcock has already made a name for himself by tapping in a late winner on his debut against Ipswich and a run of substitute appearances would be good for his future.

Redknapp will obviously prioritise promotion over the nurturing of the club’s youth prospects, but whether it is worth pursuing Kane, if this would hold Hitchcock back, is debatable.

Kane only scored twice in 13 appearances on loan at Championship Leicester last season, while a previous loan stint at Millwall brought a goal ratio of one in every three games.

Youth players to make the grade at QPR have been in short supply for a while and this may be the optimum time to give Hitchcock a serious opportunity.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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