QPR interested in another striker to replace crocked Johnson

If any club were certain not to suffer a striker shortage at the start of the season then it was QPR, but Mark Hughes is still considering dipping back into the transfer market to replace Andy Johnson.

QPR are currently in the bottom three after taking just two points from their opening three games and with a newly-assembled squad that may take a while to gel, 11/4 looks a fair price that they are relegated at the end of the campaign.

They will certainly need a striker to find the scoresheet on a fairly regular basis if they are to escape the drop, but this definitely will not be Johnson after injuring his cruciate knee ligaments against Chelsea.

There is a strong likelihood that this has already brought an abrupt end to his season with an early diagnosis suggesting he will be sidelined for 10 months.

QPR should have ample cover to cope with the absence, as Djibril Cisse, Bobby Zamora, Jamie Mackie, DJ Campbell and Rob Hulse remain in the squad, while Jay Bothroyd may have a recall clause in his loan deal at Sheffield Wednesday.

Meanwhile, with a host of central midfield options and the attacking creativity of Adel Taarabt and Junior Hoilett, they could easily get by with a loan frontman if desperation really kicked in.

Despite this, Hughes still wants further reinforcements and has identified John Guidetti as a possible option.

Guidetti has never really had a look in at Manchester City, but showed more than a glimpse of his capabilities when scoring 20 goals in 23 games on loan at Feyernoord last season, including three hat-tricks in four fixtures.

He is likely to be available on loan again in January and if QPR are still lingering around the relegation places at this point of the season, Guidetti may well arrive to try to fire them to safety.

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