16 August 2012 13:49
Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Hughes will give his new look side their first chance to impress at home to Swansea City on Saturday.
The London club have made several shrewd signings since narrowly avoiding relegation last season and boast lofty ambitions moving forward.
South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung joined from Manchester United for a reported fee of around two million pounds, while Brazilian defender Fabio da Silva also arrived on loan from Old Trafford.
England international goalkeeper Robert Green crossed over from West Ham United as Tottenham defender Ryan Nelsen and Fulham forward Andrew Johnson also signed on free transfers.
Hughes is likely to rely on the experienced heads of Green and Nelson to strengthen his defence after the team conceded an alarming 66 goals last season.
Throw former Blackburn Rovers midfielder Junior Hoilett and loan capture Samba Diakite from Nancy into the mix and the fans at Loftus Road have cause for optimism ahead of the new campaign.
Swansea stunned the Premier League with their style of play under former manager Brendan Rodgers last season – finishing 11th with 12 wins, 11 draws and 15 losses – and will be out to prove their efforts were no fluke.
Rodgers has since moved on to Liverpool, with former Denmark international Michael Laudrup taking the reins at Liberty Stadium.
Promising young talent Joe Allen followed Rodgers to Anfield, but has Laudrup moved swiftly to bolster his stocks with three foreign additions.
Villarreal midfielder Jonathan De Guzman penned a season-long loan, while Spanish duo Jose Manuel Flores from Genoa and Michu from Rayo Vallecano completed transfers.
QPR ran out 3-0 winners last time the sides met at Loftus Road in April this year.