Hughes: QPR won’t be that badly affected by AFCON 2013 but will he be in charge then?

By Tom Moore Monday, November 19, 2012
10:06 PM

QPR manager Mark Hughes believes that his side will be able to cope in January during the African Cup of Nations.

Adel Taarabt (Morocco) and Samba Diakite (Mali) could both be called up to their national squads for the competition.

The former Spurs trainee has been in sensational form for the R’s in recent weeks but the Welshman is hoping that the departures will not adversely affect his side further.

“Some of those teams have gone out which some of our players would have been involved in,” Hughes told London24.

“As we stand, there is only maybe Adel or Samba Diakite that we might lose.

“From my point of view it could have been worse as more players could have gone away with their country.

“We will only lose two so it is not significant this time.”

Whether Hughes will now be given the opportunity to be in charge of the side in January remains to be seen after the R’s were beaten by Southampton on Saturday.

The result leaves the west Londoners as the only side without a win so far this season and fans voiced their displeasure towards the Welshman and his players during the game.

Owner Tony Fernandes hinted that he was considering Hughes’ future at the club on social networking site Twitter at the weekend.

“On my way home from America,” he wrote on his way back from the American Grand Prix. “Long long flight to think of many things. Just stopped of at Osaka. Now back home to Kuala Lumpur.”

It could be worse for Fernandes if his Caterham F1 team don’t finish in 11th place at the Brazilian Grand Prix as Marussia would take 10th place and the final prize-paying position in the Constructors championship.