Rangers boss insists Buzsaky and Smith both have a future at the club

Neil Warnock insists that forgotten QPR man Akos Buzsaky has a future at the club – despite his plans to sign another midfielder in January.

Buzsaky played 19 times in Rangers’ Championship-winning side last season, but has not featured in the current campaign since the 2-0 defeat to Wigan in August.

The Hungary international has dismissed suggestions that he requires an operation for a troublesome cyst on his knee, and Warnock confirmed that he is fit and available for selection.

However, with new signings set to arrive in January, Buzsaky and other fringe players including Tommy Smith are set to find their chances limited in the new year.

“We did hear something in the media that Akos needed an operation, but that’s news to us, he’s gone home this week because of an illness in the family, but he’ll be back Thursday and available,” Warnock told the Times.

“There will be number of signings in January, we’ve got four subs at the minute, we’re having a nightmare and we’ll have to sign four or five players in January.

“There’ll be a midfielder, a couple of defenders and a couple of forwards. We’ll be trying to get big-name players, but we’ve got to make sure we get four or five good players, we can’t be left short like we were on Saturday at Stoke.”

Warnock also maintained that Smith, who has been restricted to a string of substitute appearances in recent weeks, is still part of his plans.

“Tommy Smith has done really well, he’s one of the fit ones thank goodness, I feel sorry for Tommy because he hasn’t had the chance to come in and do well. He’s being patient, he’d like to be playing. There’s still a place for him. He’s fit and available for selection.”

The QPR boss also insisted he is not concerned with the side’s lack of goals from midfield. Joey Barton and Alejandro Faurlin have each netted once this season, but Shaun Wright-Phillips and Adel Taarabt are both yet to score.

“As long as goals are coming I’m not bothered where they come from,” added Warnock. “We’re creating chances all over the show at the moment and the movement from midfield has been super, so I’ve been quite pleased with how it’s going.

“Guys like Shaun Wright-Phillips have never been prolific goalscorers, I think he’ll chip in with a few but at the moment he just needs a little bit of luck, he hit the post on Saturday. He’ll come good when we need him.

And Warnock confirmed that Taarabt, who was a week late returning from international duty having lost his passport, must fight to regain his place in the team. “I’m not going to change it while it’s going well, he needs to be patient and wait for his time.”

Follow me on Twitter @QPRTimes