Rs welcome Union Berlin for a 2.30pm kick-off on Saturday

Steve McClaren will take charge of his first game at Loftus Road as Queens Park Rangers boss on Saturday when German second-tier side Union Berlin visit.

The west Londoners will play their final pre-season friendly against the Die Eisermen, before their new Sky Bet Championship campaign begins on August 4.

For McClaren, the game with Union will offer one final chance to have a look at his options in a match scenario ahead of the opening day trip to Preston North End.

One man who could play at Preston on August 4 is Ilias Chair, who has featured regularly for the Rs throughout pre-season.

The 20-year-old played the full 90 minutes last Sunday as McClaren’s side fell to a 3-0 defeat at Hoffenheim, having drawn 2-2 with the Bundesliga side in a another friendly the day before.

Chair will hope he gets another chance to feature against German opposition when the Rs welcome Union for a 2.30pm kick-off on Saturday.

And the attacking midfielder is also keen to get plenty of opportunities in the first team throughout the campaign.

“For me the most important thing is to get into the team. I will work hard for it every day to prove to the manager that I am worthy of my place and I deserve to play,” Chair told the club website.

The 20-year-old made his QPR debut under former boss Ian Holloway in the EFL Cup first round win at home to Northampton Town last season.

Chair went on to make a further six appearances in all competitions and netted his only goal for the Rs so far in a 3-1 Sky Bet Championship win at home to Birmingham City in April.

Since the youngster last played for the Loftus Road outfit in May, though, Holloway has been replaced at the helm by McClaren.

But Chair says he is enjoying working with the new boss and, in particular, is pleased with the football McClaren is trying to get the team to play.

“The build-up and the way we are trying to keep the ball is just very smart because we let other teams run whilst we keep the ball,” added the midfielder.

“Pre-season is a tough time for everyone in terms of how hard we have to work, but we are only going to get better because of it so it’s rewarding for us.”