Following the defeats against Reading on Saturday, which position does QPR boss Ian Holloway need to prioritise in the transfer window?

Having entered the third week of pre-season, the current QPR squad will have had every opportunity to impress manager Ian Holloway and his backroom staff.

Following the rough ride they faced in Portugal, and a week back at Harlington which was topped off with two friendlies against Reading, any player looking to put down a marker for the new season will have shown exactly what he can offer in the forthcoming season.

As much as some players will have impressed during the back-to-back fixtures on Saturday, there is no doubting that such defeats will have given the management a dose of reality as they look to ensure the team are battle-born come the start of August.

Josh Scowen is the only senior recruit so far this summer, but one who is a dead-cert in terms of what you can expect in the new season. His battling qualities which he showcased at Barnsley last seasonmade him exactly the sort of player needed by a club in QPR's position.

But what other areas will need strengthening?

By process of elimination, it appears that the goalkeeping slot and centre midfield are at full-strength.

In Alex Smithies the club has arguably one of the best stoppers in the division, and in the engine room the Hoops appear to have enough strength with the acquisition of Scowen joining the likes of Sean Goss, Jordan Cousins, Massimo Luongo and young Ryan Manning.

However where the club do need bolstering is at either end of the park.

The side is in desperate need of some creative flair, and this is something which is surely at the top of the shopping list.

Players of this sort don't usually come cheap, meaning that the club might need to focus on recruiting two or three quality players, as opposed to bringing in five or six somewhat average additions in order to obtain someone of the required skill-set to make an impression this season.

As well as a creative type, it's essential that the club recruit intelligently in their back line.

This season has the potential to be a real slog for Holloway's men, and so it's crucial that the club has leaders around to guide the team through some of the tricky encounters which they are going to face.

QPR boast one of the youngest squads in the league, and so it's vital that come the start of the season, the team has the required blend of youth and experience to handle the challenges ahead.