With the transfer window approaching, the level of business Steve McClaren can do is likely to be minimal.

They're still fighting against the restrictions of their transfer embargo, meaning low-cost loans and free transfers are likely to be the order of the day.

There will also be an emphasis on getting rid of any players who haven't impressed during the first four  months of the season, or who haven't been given a chance to.

The QPR story is a remarkable one, they had a summer of discontent, started badly with a weak squad and were immediately marked out as relegation fodder, A couple of wily loan signings, coupled with a resilience in big games saw them consolidate in the middle of the pack, which is where they now reside.

The troubles are not over, there's still a long way to go, but if the former England manager can pull them out of the next few months with their Championship status intact, he will have done a good job.

FLW thinks he'll be doing so without these two players, set for a departure this January.

Smith is sure to be gone this winter, the big centre forward has been on the outer fringes of the first team squad and kept there by Nahki Wells and Tomer Hemed.

He can still do a job for someone, but it's likely not to be the Hoops or Steve McClaren.

Sylla is another remnant of a time gone by, a player stagnating with no first team action and seemingly no route to the first team.

McClaren will be delighted to get him off the wage bill, Sylla will be hunting first team football.

Whether he finds it is entirely another matter.