Queens Park Rangers have been handed a big injury boost ahead of their Championship fixture on Wednesday night.

What's the latest?

In recent comments cited by West London Sport, Mark Warburton revealed that he is "very optimistic" that Charlie Austin will be fit enough to play a part in QPR's trip to Middlesbrough on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old has not featured for the Rs since his withdrawal midway through the second half of the club's 1-1 draw with Millwall on the opening day of the Championship season, having taken a heavy knock to his knee.

However, it very much appears as if the centre-forward could well be back in action at the Riverside Stadium, with Warburton stating: "Charlie will be training [on Monday] and we'll see how he goes.

"It was a whack on the knee, some bruising and it had to calm down. We'll see how he is, but I'm very optimistic."

Fans will be buzzing

While QPR demonstrated in their 3-0 win over Hull City last weekend that they do not have much of a problem finding the back of the net in the absence of Austin, the striker's prospective return to first team action this week will nevertheless have the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium faithful buzzing.

Indeed, the £1.8m-rated man was in fantastic form over his 21 Championship appearances while on loan in west London last season, bagging eight goals, registering one assist and creating two big chances for his teammates, as well as taking 2.3 shots and making 0.5 key passes per game.

These returns saw the £52k-per-week forward earn an average SofaScore match rating of 6.94, ranking him as Warburton's eighth-best performer in the second tier of English football.

As such, the return of the former Southampton hitman will undoubtedly provide the QPR manager's chances of continuing his side's impressive early-season form with a rather substantial boost, with the Rs boss - along with the club's fans - undoubtedly hoping that Austin can bag a goal or two upon his potential return to action on Wednesday.

In other news: Warburton drops claim on "outstanding" £4k-p/w beast that will have QPR fans buzzing