WE WON’T BE LONE RANGERS, ADMITS HARRY

HARRY Redknapp locks horns with his former firstteam coach tomorrow night – and the QPR boss admits Steve McClaren is now a direct promotion rival.

Since leaving Loftus Road in September, former England manager McClaren has turned Derby into serious Premier League hopefuls.

And Redknapp acknowledges the Rams will take some stopping with his old mate at the helm.

“Derby are a great club and one that was in the Premier League a few years ago and Steve has done an excellent job there,” he said.

“There are about six or seven teams chasing Leicester, who seem to be running away with it, and Derby are one of them.

“Like any of the clubs they could move into the Premier League, it’s going to be tough and I wouldn’t want to pick who’s going up. It’s going right down to the wire.”

Matty Phillips may miss the rest of the season after suffering an ankle injury in Rangers’ thrilling 3-3 draw with fellow title chasers Burnley last weekend.

Yossi Benayoun (groin) and Alejandro Faurlin (cruciate) both have long-term injuries but the potential debut of new signing Aaron Hughes could be a ray of hope for the West London side.

And Redknapp has urged his players to battle through a difficult period, with the R’s boss also missing the likes of Charlie Austin and Danny Simpson.

He added:“They’re all a big loss but now it’s up to the lads who have come in and the ones we already have here to get on with it now.”