Wolves have suffered a blow with the news that midfielder Dave Edwards has been ruled out until the New Year with a hamstring injury.
The Welsh international has suffered a 'Grade Two' tear which means he will be out for around two months.
The news is a disappointment to manager Stale Solbakken, as Edwards had become a key figure for him in recent weeks.
"It is disappointing that he picked up a bad injury," said boss Stale Solbakken.
"We don't have so many players with the experience that Dave has.
"In the last four or five games he has been up to a good standard in his performances."
Long has scored seven goals in 16 appearances for the Baggies this season, but Clarke insists there is no truth in the rumours linking him with Liverpool, despite a lack of firepower in Brendan Rodgers' side.
"Liverpool need a striker, Shane is playing well, so a lazy journalist puts it together and makes a story out of it," Clarke told the Birmingham Mail.
"Shane is not for sale. And I'd be very surprised if Brendan Rodgers wanted to take Shane anyway.
"People are merely looking at connections and making stories out of it."
Meanwhile, Clarke also confirmed goalkeeper Ben Foster is recovering well following his groin operation, although a sickness bug is causing him problems.
Yassine El Ghanassy was forced to sit out West Brom U21s victory over Bolton while a number of other first team players have also been struck down.
"Yassine is sick, we've had a sickness virus at the club," added Clarke.
"Boaz Myhill was also sick last week. He didn't travel with us to Swansea. He actually came down on the day of the game.
"Billy Jones was also sick overnight on Friday - he wasn't even in the stadium - and now Yassine is unwell. Ben is improving (from his operation) which is good news for us. We will see how he gets on."
Few could have predicted the west Londoners' miserable start to the campaign after a host of high-profile names arrived at Loftus Road during the summer.
However, QPR have started the season without a win in 15 attempts and have just six points to their name, leaving them seven points adrift of safety.
There have already been signs of improvement since Harry Redknapp replaced Mark Hughes at the helm, but Nelsen knows there needs to be more.
"Do we need time to gel? Nobody was saying anything like that in August when the players were being signed," he told the club's official website.
"We, as players, have to take responsibility for where we are. It's as simple as that.
"It's a horrible position that we're in and we know it. We've got to dig ourselves out of it."
QPR head to Wigan this weekend looking for that first elusive win and go there on the back of a 1-1 home draw with Aston Villa.
The result equalled the Premier League's longest ever winless start to a season set by Swindon in 1993/94, but Nelsen is trying to look on the positive side.
"I think Villa were probably happy with the draw," the defender said.
"In the position we're in, we're looking for wins but we are two games unbeaten now and we've just got to try and get that first victory.
"Our heads didn't drop when Villa scored and I don't think Harry would ever let that happen. It was disappointing to concede such a soft goal.
"For the rest of the match I felt we had all the good chances but that second goal just wouldn't come for us.
"When they got to the 60-minute mark, I think they decided they wanted that point and probably away from home, that was a pretty important one for them.
"They just sat back really but we had a few chances. Clint Hill hit the crossbar, Park Ji-sung had a good shot and we had a couple of one-on-ones in the first half as well."
