QPR squad heads to Dubai for warm-weather training camp

Chris Ramsey is taking his players to Dubai to plan for the final stretch of the Premier League season

QPR will fly out to Dubai for a training camp to take advantage of a free weekend because of Tottenham's involvement in the League Cup final.

The Premier League strugglers leave on Monday and will return on Saturday.

"Getting together, going through and planning what we want to do for these last 12 games is going to be very important," said QPR boss Chris Ramsey.

Rangers were due to host Spurs in the Premier League on Sunday but the game has been moved to next Saturday.

"It's a training camp, not a reward," added Ramsey, whose side are above the relegation zone only on goal difference with a dozen games left to play.

Their next match is at home to Arsenal on Wednesday, 4 March.

Adverse weather conditions were also a factor in the decision, with pitches at the club's Imperial College training ground becoming waterlogged.

"Despite the efforts of the groundsmen, our training pitch gets flooded," said Ramsey. "We think that if we can get away for a bit of different scenery and look at things in a more holistic manner, it will be better for us."

Fellow Premier League sides Newcastle, Stoke and Manchester City have all travelled to Dubai for training camps in 2015.

Current league champions City were knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough after returning to the UK the day before their fourth-round tie.