Good morning! Queens Park Rangers have a tricky tie against Premier League champions Manchester City before heading into the international break next week. They host Manuel Pellegrini's men at Loftus Road on Saturday. Manager Harry Redknapp will be speaking to the media ahead of the tie in around 15 minutes.

There are likely to be a number of players missing, with Rio Ferdinand serving the second match of a three-game ban for remarks made on Twitter, while Joey Barton and Jordan Mutch have both been battling hamstring problems over the last month or so. They're both thought to be nearing a return to fitness, but probably will not be risked before the international break.

QPR probably felt disappointed not to come away from Stamford Bridge with something last weekend, having been on level terms with the league leaders until a Eden Hazard scored a late penalty for Chelsea. The result leaves Rangers with just two wins since their return to the top flight.

Later today, we'll have our match preview for this fixture online. There'll also be build up to the match from an hour before kickoff as part of our live coverage on Saturday, so make sure you join us then to find out if QPR can cause something of an upset.

Redknapp will be optimistic that his side can make some progress up the table after the break. They'll return to domestic action with a match against Newcastle, who have had their problems this season, and will also host Leicester before the end of the month.

We mentioned Rio Ferdinand's ban a few minutes ago. Well, the defender has confirmed that he will not be appealing against the decision, stating that there would be no point.

It looks like the manager is running a few minutes late this morning. He might still be getting his head around Man City's result in the Champions League last night, as Redknapp will now be preparing his side to face a team that have lost three of their last four matches in all competitions.

QPR have plenty of room for improvement at the minute, they're bottom of the defence table, allowing an average of two goals per game, while their nine goals scored this season leaves them 18th for attacking.

Better late than never, Redknapp has just sat himself down ready to face the media, so let's see what he has to say...

There's good news on the injury front as Redknapp confirms that Joey Barton, Niko Kanjcar, Jordan Mutch and Nedum Onuoha are all available for selection this weekend. Whether or not they will all feature is another matter, but that's a positive sign for QPR.

When asked how his side will approach the match, Redknapp says: "We'll need to play well, with the same commitment shown in the last few games. It'll be thought, but one to look forward to."

Jose Mourinho criticised Chelsea's fans for not making enough noise during last Saturday's game against QPR, but Redknapp has no such concern over his side's supporters: "The fans have been excellent, I'm sure they will be again on Saturday, the noise they made at Chelsea was incredible."

Adding to the news that several injured players are available to return this weekend, Redknapp tells reporters: "Today's the first day we've got a clean bull of health, everybody is fit. It's nice to have too many good players rather than not enough."

Adding to the news that several injured players are available to return this weekend, Redknapp tells reporters: "Today's the first day we've got a clean bull of health, everybody is fit. It's nice to have too many good players rather than not enough."

Despite Man City's recent struggles, Redknapp believes that this weekend's opponents have a strong squad: "I think whenever you play Man City it's always a difficult game, they're a fantastic squad of players. We've got to play well to get anything."

Redknapp is once again asked about the three-match ban handed to Rio Ferdinand. The manager reveals: "I spoke to Rio, he felt it was unjust and a heavy punishment. Someone has criticised him, and he criticised back, that's life. I just think it's a very heavy ban, three games, but he has decided it's not worth appealing, he'll just move on."

Charlie Austin the the team's top scorer so far this season, and Redknapp believes that the striker is yet to peak: "Charlie's improving all the time. There's no reason why he can't [play for England] one day. He must keep scoring."

Still on Austin, Redknapp adds: "He's got a great attitude, he grew up in Brick Lane and he knows how lucky he is, he's a top-class guy. But Roy's not spoken to me about Charlie yet."

Redknapp is also asked about the international prospects of Spurs striker Harry Kane, who he worked with during his time at White Hart Lane. He says: "He's done very well, but suddenly he's come off the bench for Spurs and he should be in the England team, he's not even in the Tottenham team. I don't quite see it, Harry need to establish himself in the Tottenham team, but he's got a big future."

One reporters asks whether this is the best time to face Man City, and Redknapp concedes that the champions are not at their best: "It's a very up and down game, when you're at a club like Man City they don't have too many downs do they? But they still have probably the best player in the Premier League in Aguero and they of full of quality. It's not the worst time to play them, at the moment they are not playing with the same freedom and flare of six weeks ago."

Former Spurs striker Jermain Defoe has been linked with another stint under Redknapp in the future. The manager admits that he did try to sign the forward from MLS side Toronto over the summer: "We tried to get him this summer. I'm a fan, but there's no movement. The figures would need to move."

The manager insists that Man City will be in the title fight towards the end of the season: "They're world-class players and they've just had a bit of a blip, they're right there, they'll be there when the title's handed out at the end of the season."

That's all from a fairly chatty and upbeat Harry Redknapp this morning. Don't forget to join us again on Saturday to see if QPR can make the most of Man City's recent struggles. Until then, thanks for joining me this morning. Goodbye.