Harry Redknapp rues Loic Remy injury setback
Queens Park Rangers' bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League has received a fresh setback after manager Harry Redknapp revealed that new striker Loic Remy has sustained a groin injury.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: February 02, 2013 10:03 PM IST
Queens Park Rangers' bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League has received a fresh setback after manager Harry Redknapp revealed that new striker Loic Remy has sustained a groin injury.
Remy, an £8 million ($12.6 million, 9.2 million euros) signing from Marseille last month, missed Saturday's 0-0 draw at home to Norwich City and Redknapp said he did not yet know the extent of the injury.
"He tore a groin muscle yesterday (Friday) in training. I have no idea at the moment how long he will be out," said Redknapp.
"It was in the last minute of training, and he just struck a ball, felt it go. We will have to see how he is tomorrow and Monday, then take it from there."
The stalemate with Norwich prevented QPR from making ground on their fellow relegation candidates, but Redknapp took heart from the performance of debutant Christopher Samba.
A club-record £12.5 million acquisition from Anzhi Makhachkala on Thursday, the former Blackburn Rovers centre-back produced a typically imposing display to help QPR register a fourth clean sheet in five league games.
"Chris Samba was fantastic today," Redknapp said.
"He's not played since November. We asked him how he was and he said he was about 40 percent fit. If that's 40 percent, I don't know what he'll be like when he's 100 percent. He was outstanding."
Redknapp also hailed midfielder Andros Townsend, who was named man of the match and almost claimed a late winner with a 25-yard strike on his first appearance since signing on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.
"Andros Townsend had an outstanding game," Redknapp said.
"People keep talking about big money -- I think he's on about £3,000 a week. I think we'll get good value out of him. Absolutely brilliant today. Never stopped working. He's a young player with a big future."
Redknapp saw Adel Taarabt have a 56th-minute penalty saved by Norwich goalkeeper Mark Bunn, but the QPR manager refused to criticise his Moroccan playmaker.
"That's how it goes. Adel was outstanding again," he said.
"It's just one of those things. If we score, then we win the game, there's no doubt."
Reflecting on his side's performance, he added: "I couldn't have asked for more. We just needed a break.
"They gave everything. We just need to turn draws into wins and you don't get a better opportunity than we had today.
"We're unbeaten since the turn of the year so we've just got to keep going."
Norwich have now gone eight league games without victory but manager Chris Hughton said he was satisfied by his side's display.
"From our point of view, it was a point well earned," he said.
"I know we've had to save a penalty but I think on the balance of play, and being away from home, then most definitely it was well deserved.
"Any point away from home in the Barclays Premier League is a big point, and these are a team that are striving to get away from that bottom three and they've bought very, very well."