West Ham v QPR preview: Kamara row with Finland clouds Friday night Championship clash

West Ham United and Queens Park Rangers open the Championship's return from the international break on Friday 9 October, with kick-off at 8pm BST at the London Stadium. Nuno Espírito Santo's West Ham are second on 15 points, two behind leaders Swansea City. Julien Stephan's QPR are sixth on 13 points and have lost only once in eight league games. The build-up has been dominated by a club-versus-country dispute over QPR midfielder Glen Kamara.

Why might Glen Kamara miss the game?

The Football Association of Finland says QPR withdrew Kamara, 30, from its squad before Tuesday's Nations League match against Hungary. Finland head coach Jacob Friis said on the federation's website that the player was in a difficult position because his club insisted he return to London.

FIFA rules require a released player to stay available to his national team for the whole window unless an early return is agreed. A player who leaves early cannot play for his club for five days after the window ends without the national association's consent. Friday's game falls three days after the window closed, and Finland's general secretary Marco Casagrande told Helsingin Sanomat that FIFA will be informed.

Stephan said there was a dialogue between QPR and the federation and that the club would decide after it. Kamara has started three of QPR's eight league games and come off the bench in four.

How do West Ham arrive?

West Ham, relegated from the Premier League last season, have scored 22 goals in eight matches, the most in the division. Their run includes a 6-0 win over Wrexham on 11 September in front of 59,712 at the London Stadium, the largest crowd ever for a Wrexham match, with goals from Jarrod Bowen, Joël Piroe, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Taty Castellanos, Mohamadou Kanté and Manor Solomon.

Their last outing was a 2-2 draw at Millwall on 19 September, the first meeting between the two clubs since 2012. West Ham trailed 2-0 at half-time, came back through Kanté and Mavropanos, and finished with ten men after Kanté was sent off late on for pulling back Kyrell Lisbie.

How do QPR arrive?

QPR have won three, drawn four and lost one. Their only defeat came at home to Middlesbrough (0-1) on 5 September. They have conceded seven goals, the second-fewest in the league after Swansea, but have drawn their last three, most recently 2-2 with Preston North End at Loftus Road on 19 September.

Recent Championship results

Championship top six before the game

What is at stake?

A home win would take West Ham to 18 points and top of the table for at least a night, since Swansea do not play Norwich until Saturday lunchtime. A QPR win would lift them to 16, above West Ham. West Ham then travel to Lincoln City on Wednesday 14 October, while QPR host Derby County the same night.