Queens Park Rangers could receive a significant squad boost with the potential return of Ilias Chair for their Championship fixture against Southampton this weekend. The 28-year-old Moroccan winger has been sidelined since the beginning of September but is now in contention for the trip to St Mary's, a development QPR supporter Louis Moir described as 'quite a massive boost for us'.

Moir, speaking as a fan pundit, suggested Chair might initially be used as an impact substitute given the team's current form. 'I mean, even if he's fully fit to play, I wouldn't start him because the way we're playing at the minute, I think it'd be harsh to drop anyone for him,' he said. 'I think he'll have to work his way back into the side, but just having him fit and available as an option on the bench would be great. So I'm hoping to see him involved.'

Squad challenges and confidence

Manager Julien Stephan is cautiously optimistic about the player's availability, which comes as a welcome relief with Tariq Lamptey, Nicolas Madsen, and Rumarn Burrell all ruled out until after the upcoming international break. Chair's experience is considerable, with 286 appearances for the club since joining in January 2017, including 265 in the Championship where he has contributed 39 goals and 42 assists.

His possible return adds another dimension to a QPR side that thrashed Swansea City 5-0 in their last home match, a game in which Richard Kone scored a remarkable 15-minute hat-trick. That result has bolstered confidence ahead of facing a Southampton team that sits fifth in the standings with 23 points from 13 games. The Saints are in strong form themselves, unbeaten in five with a sequence of four wins and a draw.

Recent history between the sides

The historical record heavily favours the hosts, with QPR winning just two of the last ten meetings. Southampton delivered a brutal 5-0 defeat to the London side last season. However, the most recent encounter, just days ago on October 31st, saw Southampton run out 4-1 winners at St Mary's. Goals from Kuryu Matsuki, Cameron Bragg, Keven Schlotterbeck, and Welington secured the points, with Richard Kone netting a consolation for QPR.

For Southampton, the focus quickly shifts to maintaining their promotion push. They are currently five points behind league leaders Middlesbrough and face another tough test away at fourth-placed West Brom on Tuesday. Top scorer Cyle Larin has seven goals this season, part of a potent attack that has scored 28 league goals, the second-highest tally in the division.

While the return of Ilias Chair provides QPR with a tangible lift, Moir believes the entire squad should command respect. The fixture represents an opportunity for QPR to disrupt Southampton's momentum and improve a poor recent record on the south coast. Southampton's next match, against West Brom, is scheduled for November 3rd.

This story first appeared at Football League World