Hughes insists striking options can fire them to survival

Mark Hughes is adamant that QPR’s array of strikers can give them a crucial advantage as the fight for Premier League survival hots up.

Hughes has eight forwards at his disposal, with the impact of Djibril Cisse’s four-match suspension softened by the returns from injury of DJ Campbell and top-scorer Heidar Helguson.

The manager rested the in-form Bobby Zamora against Manchester United on Sunday, handing Jay Bothroyd his first Rangers start in almost three months in the 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford.

And with the likes of Tommy Smith and Rob Hulse also available for selection, Hughes has plenty of options.

“At the moment I’m going to try to use all the options available to me,” Hughes told London24.com. I’ve got a lot of good strikers and if I can get the combinations right then they’re going to help us.

“We’re missing Djibril [Cisse] at the moment so other people come into the frame. Heidar and DJ are getting back to full fitness, and with the games we have left it’s a great option to have so many different types of strikers.

“Against different opposition I might go with different combinations.”

Hughes admitted he has been impressed by Bothroyd’s recent displays on the training pitch, despite a disappointing season for the former Cardiff hit-man which has produced just two league goals.

“Jay has been unfortunate; obviously Bobby has come in and done really well for me so it has been difficult for him,” added Hughes.

“But Jay is training really well and I know that if I have to call on him then he’s a real option for me.

“He’s desperate to play, but he knows what we’re doing here and I have been pleased with his attitude. He likes to be involved and he’s a player who likes to play because that’s what he’s used to.

“But he has to understand that Bobby is playing exceptionally well and he has to bide his time. He will play his part between now and the end of the season.

“It’s important that I see the right attitude not only from him but from everyone else, and that’s exactly what I’m seeing at the moment.”

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