Mark Hughes: 'League Cup is important to us'

Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Hughes has claimed that he will be taking the League Cup seriously this season.

Hughes's side will face Walsall at Loftus Road on Tuesday in the competition and the former Manchester City boss expects his team to be fully focused on securing progress into the next round.

The 48-year-old said: "At this time of the year players should be able to cope if they are at the correct level fitness-wise, so I don't see any problems playing twice in a week.

"Our priority is to win the initial games we are playing in. There are only so many competitions that we can progress in and win.

"Why give up a chance by fielding a weakened side and there is also a chance you might get embarrassed if you don't do it correctly."

QPR have struggled during their opening two Premier League fixtures, picking up just one point in the process.