Harry Redknapp is hoping to sign another striker on loan during the January transfer window after concerns emerged over the fitness of recent arrival Mauro Zarate.
The QPR manager left his latest recruit, signed on loan from West Ham, on the bench for Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at Loftus Road.
Zarate wasn’t even afforded a late cameo in west London and reports claim the 27-year-old is not ready for action having started just once since October.
There is nothing left in the budget for Redknapp to spend on fees but the R's boss, who has laughed off the idea that he will be sacked, still thinks he needs another goal-getter.
He said: “We are looking for a loan. We need a striker. I have got two strikers - Bobby Zamora and Charlie Austin.
"Bobby can’t last 90 minutes but he’s fantastic. Without him (scoring the winner in last season's Championship play-off final), none of us would probably be here now.”
Rangers have relied too heavily on Austin as a source of goals this term, with the former bricklayer way out in front in the QPR scoring stakes.
He tops the list on 13 strikes for the season. Leroy Fer is his closest rival for the golden boot but has only netted three times for the Hoops.
QPR travel to Stoke on January 31, giving Zarate much-needed time to build up his fitness.
