Queens Park Rangers will be without full-back Tariq Lamptey for Wednesday's home Championship fixture against Derby County after the 26-year-old picked up an ankle injury.

Lamptey came on as a substitute in the final 21 minutes of Friday's 1-1 draw at West Ham United but has since been ruled out of the midweek game. QPR manager Julien Stephan confirmed the news on Monday, telling BBC Radio London: "The medical staff will have to continue to assess him this week but he will not be available."

It is a blow for Stephan, though the Frenchman struck a cautiously optimistic note about the wider squad. "Otherwise, for the other players who finished the last game very tired, it'll be okay," he said. Striker Rumarn Burrell also remains sidelined, having returned early from international duty with Jamaica carrying an injury.

Derby arrive in poor form but Stephan not dismissing them

On paper, Wednesday's fixture looks like an opportunity for QPR to build on their point at West Ham. Derby sit second from bottom in the Championship table with only one win from their first nine matches. But Stephan was careful not to assume the three points before a ball has been kicked.

"Derby doesn't play in the same way as West Ham, so the balance of power will be different," he said. "But we will have to find the way to repeat a strong performance at home against an experienced team with very good players."

The QPR manager name-checked several Derby players he regards as threats, including Bobby Clark, Carlton Morris, Henrik Meister, and midfielder David Orzo, whom he described as "a very good player." Stephan also pointed to the Rams' experienced defensive unit as a reason for caution.

Perhaps most tellingly, the manager reached back to recent history to underline the risk: "We know this team. They beat us two times last season." That record alone is reason enough for QPR not to treat this as a foregone conclusion, whatever the league table currently suggests.

Derby's early-season struggle in context

One win in nine Championship matches is a poor return by any measure, and Derby's position near the foot of the table reflects a side still finding its footing. The Rams have shown they are capable of causing problems for sides above them, as that double over QPR last season demonstrates, but converting that into consistent points has proved elusive so far this campaign.

For Derby, a result at Loftus Road would represent a significant lift heading into what promises to be a difficult autumn. For QPR, the priority is turning a decent point on the road into home form that keeps them moving up the table. Stephan will need to fill the gap left by Lamptey on the right flank and find a way past a Derby side he clearly respects, whatever their current league position might imply.

Kick-off on Wednesday is in the evening. Both clubs will be looking at this fixture as one they need points from for very different but equally pressing reasons.

Frequently asked

Why is Tariq Lamptey missing for QPR vs Derby?
Lamptey picked up an ankle injury after coming on as a substitute in QPR's 1-1 draw at West Ham on Friday. Manager Julien Stephan confirmed he will not be available for Wednesday's home game against Derby.
How are Derby County performing in the Championship this season?
Derby have made a difficult start, winning only one of their first nine Championship matches and sitting second from bottom in the table.
When do QPR play Derby County?
The Championship fixture between Queens Park Rangers and Derby County takes place on Wednesday evening at Loftus Road.