QPR could be without Kazenga Lua Lua for up to a month after the winger picked up an ankle injury in training yesterday.

The Brighton loanee had hit some good form coming off the bench in recent weeks, and when rewarded with a start at Preston, he scored to give the Rs the lead in the Deepdale defeat.

Rangers boss Ian Holloway fears the 26 year old could now be missing for three or four weeks, which is a blow for both player and manager.

Holloway said: “We've got a number of knocks and injuries we have picked up through the level of training. The enthusiasm of doing what I want them to do might bring that a little bit.

“Unfortunately LuaLua has twisted his ankle. He went over on it yesterday, which is very very disappointing, but it's just one of those freak things.

Injury blow: Kazenga LuaLua

“He's crossed it in, it was his standing foot. It was a great ball in and someone scored at the far post, but when we looked up he's gone over on his ankle.

"He's worked hard to try and get in the team, and he's helped us win some games lately, particularly the last home game against Wigan. I thought he was outstanding, almost unplayable. They had to put two on him at the end, he realised that and rolled it for Connor to smash in from the edge of the box.

"We're going to miss that, he's somebody who took someone else out of the game. It's a shame as he worked so hard to get into the side, got his goal, set up the winner the game before, and I had been looking forward to giving him a run of games.

"It's a big blow for me and for him. It's not good, but I will be getting some back. I will keep it in my top pocket though. What I'm going to have to do is not play the same team for the three games coming up this week.

Intensity: Ian Holloway

“Everyone else is playing so well I will have to make some careful changes, it's all about utilising my squad. They're all nearly where I want them to be now.

“I will make the odd change – unless anything outstanding happens and we smash someone - then it will be almost impossible. I was going to make a change after Birmingham, but we done so well there I didn't want to.”

Should Brighton be promoted, it may increase the Rs' chances of signing LuaLua permanently in the summer, but Holloway would not be drawn on the possibility.

He added: "That's for a later time, we're just delighted to have been able to borrow him. I know Chris (Hughton) likes him, and he's very unfortunate that the wide men over there were added when he was injured. It's put him miles back, whereas he was their best player at that time. Only time will tell."