PAULO Sousa insists he will turn QPR's fortunes around if he is still at the helm next season - and has hinted that some players could face the axe, writes David McIntyre

Despite speculation about his immediate future, the under-pressure coach will almost certainly keep his job until the end of the season.

Beyond then is a different matter, but Sousa is confident he will survive and claims the club's Flavio Briatore-led board have assured him he will be retained.

Sousa said: "Next season, I'll have had a pre-season. For a coach, pre-season is so important - especially in the Championship because you don't have much time to train during the season.

"We will have six weeks during pre-season to give our ideas and for this to be clear to the players. Then you start the season well and when you start well, you get stronger and become consistent.

"In pre-season we will also have players coming back from injuries to reinforce us and we will also look at what players we need to keep or let go."

Sousa is convinced the return of Akos Buzsaky, Rowan Vine and Martin Rowlands from long-term injuries will make a world of difference.

Rowlands suffered cruciate ligament damage during the victory at Derby in January, since which Rangers have won just twice.

Patrick Agyemang, in Sousa's words "a different type of striker," has also been sidelined, while Lee Cook continues to struggle with a knee problem.

Sousa is also keen to add to his squad but insists new signings will be kept to a minimum, with the return to full fitness of Buzsaky, Vine and Rowlands his top priority.

He revealed: "We will look at players to bring in so we can make a strong step forward. But will we make many changes? I think not.

"We will make small adjustments. What I want is to bring different types of player, not the same. I don't want more, I want different.

"There won't be many changes because with the injured players coming back we will have a strong team. I don't have a doubt about that."

Sousa said of the midweek win against Swansea: "Relief, I don't have it because I believe in my work. I believe in my players. I have nine, 10 players with injuries but I keep believing we can do it.

"With union, we can achieve good results like today."