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Live Coverage: Harry Redknapp's weekly Queens Park Rangers press conference

Follow Sports Mole's live coverage of Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp speaking to the media ahead of his side's match against Manchester United.
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Harry Redknapp has dismissed reports that he is on the verge of being fired from his role as Queens Park Rangers manager.

The boss says that he has spoken to chairman Tony Fernandes this week, and that no plans for change were mentioned.

The manager also revealed that Niko Kranjcar has recovered from an injury to be included for this weekend's match against Manchester United.

Read what else Redknapp discussed below:


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Good morning! Harry Redknapp will be speaking to the media shortly as he prepares to welcome Louis van Gaal's Manchester United to Loftus Road this weekend. Just a point could be enough to get the team out of the relegation zone when the sides meet tomorrow afternoon.

QPR have been a different side at home than away this season. Redknapp's side have been beaten just twice at Loftus Road this season, but have not picked up a single point away from home. The manager will be hoping that their home form will help them avoid another 4-0 thrashing.

Top-scorer Charlie Austin will be key for the Hoops if they're too get anything from this tie. The striker is one of the nominees for the Premier League's player of the month for December:


With the side slipping back into the bottom three, it has been suggested that Redknapp could be just another loss away from the sack at Loftus Road.

Another subject that will surely come up this morning is the transfer window. The club have been heavily linked with Jermain Defoe, but he now looks set to join Sunderland.

The manager is ready to speak, so let's see what he has to say this week...

Redknapp starts with an update on his squad availability. "Sandro and Yun should be back for the Stoke City game. Other than that, Armand [Traore] is out with a toe injury."

Shaun Wright-Phillips has been in the news this morning, bemoaning his lack of playing time with QPR this season. When asked about the winger, Redknapp says: "We've offered Shaun the chance to go out on loan, but he's not wanted to go. I think he needs to move on and play. He's a good lad, he's not a minute's problem. He trains well, but I think he needs to move on."

On the prospect of facing Manchester United, the manager reveals: "The game against Man United is one to look forward to, they're full of top class players, it's a great game for us. We're at home and we've got to have a real go at them, like we did versus Manchester City and Liverpool."

Redknapp is asked about his future at the club, but he doesn't seem too concerned: "I've seen the stories in one paper that I've got to beat Manchester United. If the owners want to make a change, that's up to them. I've spoken to Tony Fernandes this week and it hasn't been mentioned. We've just got to keep going."

The Premier League has just confirmed that Charlie Austin has won the player of the month away for December, and the manager says: "I'm delighted that Charlie has won the player of the month, let's hope he keeps scoring for us. I don't get involved in contract talks, but I know Charlie is happy here."

Turning his attention to the relegation battle, Redknapp insists that he has the squad to avoid the drop: "It's so close down at the bottom, but I'm confident with the players we've got here. We should have done better away from home, it's not bee good enough, but at home we've done well."

Adel Taarabt made a surprise return to the matchday squad last week, just a couple of months after the manager said he was three stone overweight. When asked about the Moroccan, Redknapp says: "Adel is fine, he's just had his breakfast, and is back in the fold for us. He did well last week."

Several of the club's younger player have returned from loan spells in the lower leagues over the last few weeks, and Redknapp reveals that they will have a chance to prove themselves: "If there's young players here who are good enough, they'll play. But if they're not we won't play them. We've got one or two young lads coming through that we're very hopeful about. When they're ready, they'll play."

Redknapp is asked about Wright-Phillips again, and he reveals that the former England international turned down the chance to join Championship sides Blackburn Rovers and Charlton Athletic on loan.

Back on the transfer window, Redknapp tells reporters: "We invested in the summer, so I know what we're dealing with in January. The board have been excellent. If we can get one or two loans that would be great, we are looking at it. [Defoe has] gone to Sunderland now hasn't he? But we couldn't afford a deal for him. A lot of bets have been put on [Aaron Lennon] moving to APR have they? Well I don't know who is putting those on, because I don't know anything about it. [Emmanuel Adebayor] would be out of our budget, but I haven't discussed it with anyone."

Niko Kranjcar missed last week's trip to Burnley with an injury, but Redknapp confirms that he is fine for this match: "Niko is back in the squad this weekend. He was injured last week, but he's trained well and is back with us now."

Redknapp is asked about having support from the fans, and he insists: "The fans have been great, they've been fantastic. They give us great support."

That's all from Redknapp this week, but why not stick around as we'll be hearing from Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal in around an hour. Don't forget to join us again tomorrow to see if Redknapp's side can upset United. Until then, thanks for joining me this morning. Goodbye.

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