Cisse still part of Hughes´ plans

Mark Hughes insists that Djibril Cisse remains a key member of his Queens Park Rangers squad.

Cisse started the team’s opening two games to the Premier League campaign and has featured as a substitute in their following three fixtures against Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, but is yet to score this term.

The 31-year-old struck six times in eight appearances last season, although was sent off twice.

Andy Johnson, Bobby Zamora and Junior Hoilett have been preferred as starting options in recent weeks.

“He (Cisse) started the first two games and then I changed things around with different formations and different challenges,” Hughes said.

“I just felt Bobby and Andy would help us in those games. So he’s gone out of the team.

“We know exactly what Djibril gives us. He’s an outstanding finisher. As a team, we’re strong and compact and we have enough quality about us to be able to release Djibril at the right time to show what he can do.

“As I said, we haven’t quite got the solidarity in terms of performance to do that yet. But even if Djibril isn’t in the team, he’s a great impact sub to be able to bring on and change games.

“The different type of forwards I’ve got is a comfort to me. It allows me to make changes to personnel and playing different opposition, we can pose different threats to whoever we’re playing against. He’s very much in my thoughts.”