QPR have been handed a welcome boost after scans showed Rob Green's rib injury is not as bad as first feared.
The Hoops No1 was forced off during Saturday's victory over Yeovil, which kept him out of last night's 3-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.
Brian Murphy deputised between the sticks and is expected to continue to fill in for the trip to Middlesbrough at the weekend.
However, Rangers assistant manager Kevin Bond revealed Green should be back in contention sooner rather than later.
He said: "We're hopeful it's not as bad as first feared. Hopefully it won't be weeks.
"He has a rib injury and we think the extent of that is just bruising. We thought he might have cracked something.
"If there was a plus against Sheffield Wednesday I thought Murph did terrific in very difficult set of circumstances."
Meanwhile, striker Kevin Doyle is closing in on a return to action after a spell out with a knee injury.
Bond added: "He's making progress but I'm not sure when he'll be fit. It won't be long."
