Danny Guthrie has returned to the Newcastle squad.
Guthrie has been sidelined by a groin injury since the beginning of December and will provide manager Alan Pardew with a fresh option in the wake of Cheick Tiote's departure for the African Nations Cup. Demba Ba is also missing after linking up with Senegal for the tournament.
However, striker Peter Lovenkrands (calf) is unlikely to make the game, and Sammy Ameobi (knee) has joined Sylvain Marveaux (groin) and defender Steve Taylor (Achilles) on the list of long-term absentees.
Mark Hughes will be unable to call on several of his biggest names for his first game in charge of QPR.
Captain Joey Barton remains suspended for the Premier League trip to his former club, while Adel Taarabt and Armand Traore are on African Nations Cup duty.
Alejandro Faurlin (knee) has been ruled out for the rest of the season and goalkeeper Paddy Kenny is keeping his fingers crossed he does not suffer a recurrence of the hip problem that has dogged him recently.
Newcastle (from): Krul, Elliot, Harper, Simpson, R. Taylor, Santon, Ferguson, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Kadar, Cabaye, Obertan, Ben Arfa, Gutierrez, Guthrie, Gosling, Abeid, Vuckic, Best, Shola Ameobi.
QPR (from): Kenny, Cerny, Murphy, Gabbidon, Connolly, Hill, Bothroyd, Orr, Derry, Buzsaky, Young, Smith, Mackie, Helguson, Wright-Phillips, Hulse, Campbell, Macheda.
