QPR boss Mark Warburton has clarified his recent selection decisions, insisting that he is simply utilising his entire squad and that players have not been dropped.

This weekend saw Conor Masterson replaced by Yoann Barbet in the starting XI for the clash with Stoke City whilst Ilias Chair and Todd Kane also returned after a period on the bench.

“Todd Kane has played a lot of football and Angel came in. Ilias has played a lot of football and comes out," he said after the match, reported by West London Sport.

“They’re not dropped. If you have a real squad mentality, they’re not dropped.

“You have to try to rotate the players and keep it fresh. You have to get the balance right."

QUIZ: Can you remember the scores from QPR’s first 12 games of this season?

QPR found themselves 2-0 down inside 30 minutes thanks to goals from Sam Clucas and Tyrese Campbell, but through Jordan Hugill and Ebere Eze they went in level at half-time.

The second period was all about the R's as Bright Osayi-Samuel finally put them in front following a period of dominance before Illias Chair rounded things off in injury time.

It is a result which leaves them in 16th place, moving 11 points clear of the relegation zone in the process.

The verdict

I think Warburton's tactic here is exactly right, especially having just come out of the busy winter period.

And it appears that he has built a strong enough team ethic that players will not be too dispondent when they are replaced in the starting line-up by their teammates.

It certainly worked on Saturday with a host of players returning to the XI and putting Stoke to the sword impressively.

They do not appear to be in any danger of relegation either so why risk people if you do not need to?