Richard Kone Faces New Injury Concern in QPR Development Match

Richard Kone’s difficult season took another worrying turn on Monday as the QPR striker was forced off less than half an hour into a development squad match.

The 23-year-old, who finished last season as QPR’s top scorer, started for the club’s Under-21s against Bolton but limped out after a heavy challenge, cutting short what was meant to be a key step in his comeback.

Kone had been sidelined since suffering an injury against Middlesbrough on 5 September. His outing against Bolton’s youngsters was his first appearance since that setback, a chance to rebuild sharpness after a stuttering start to the campaign in which he has managed only four first-team appearances and is yet to score.

That plan lasted barely 30 minutes.

After taking a strong challenge, Kone tried to continue but was unable to shake off the problem and was substituted, leaving QPR’s staff with fresh concerns over his fitness. Bolton’s Under-21s went on to win the game 3-1, but the result felt secondary for QPR to the sight of their leading marksman from last season hobbling off again.

The exact nature of Kone’s latest injury has not yet been confirmed, and the club now face an anxious wait to discover whether this is a minor setback or a more serious blow in a season that has yet to get going for their striker.