Mark Hughes's 25-man squad 2.0 has been announced and, as ever, it is the absences that make for the most interesting reading.



The arrival of Julio Cesar and (perhaps more saliently) the non-departure of Rob Green mean that there was only one place left in the squad for Radek Cerny and Brian Murphy. And, while I am a fan of the veteran Czech, it is good to see youth get the nod over experience - particularly considering Cerny's ongoing back problems.

Luke Young failed to make the 25, bringing to an end a short career at Loftus Road that began with the panic buying on the final days of last season's summer transfer window. Good going forward from rightback - he scored twice in a season bereft of goals - he always looked a little suspect on his way back towards goal, and it will be little surprise to see him loaned out in the next couple of weeks before departing permanently.

New signing Stephane Mbia has been named as a defensive player, which is where Marseille saw his career headed. However the player himself saw his career further up the pitch, and was visibly put out last season. Here's hoping that Hughes and Mbia have talked this through properly.

With only three strikers named, DJ Campbell - who was not named in the squad - can be expecting to leave as well next week. And can we hope that the last "pay cheque warrior" from the Tango & Cash era, Rob Hulse, will finally leave the party? He's been stinking the place up for what seems eternity now.

Congratulations to Hogan Ephraim and Kieron Dyer who have fought their way back from the wilderness and injury respectively to feature in the squad this season. Dyer has been like a new signing this term and everyone is keeping everything crossed that he doesn't break again. He is going to have to get used to hearing 15,000 people wince simultaneously this season.

I still think Ephraim is capable of making it in the Premier League, but he has had more than enough chances and is yet to take one. Apparently he had an epiphany at the end of last season and decided to knuckle down and work. Let's hope it's not too little too late.

There are very little in the way of surprises in the rest of the squad other than the naming of just three strikers. I have some thoughts about Hughes tactical thinking this season which will go some way to explaining the lack of firepower. I do hope I'm right because we are just two injuries away from disaster.

But all in all, the squad makes pleasing reading. It is no surprise that only ten members of last year's 25-man squad remain because this one looks to have very few weak links.

Now the hard work begins.

Goalkeepers:
Rob Green
Murphy
Julio Cesar

Defenders:
Clint Hill
Armand Traore
Fabio da Silva
Anton Ferdinand
Nedum Onuoha
Ryan Nelsen
Jose Bosingwa
Stephane Mbia

Midfielders
Samba Diakite
Shaun Derry
Kieron Dyer
Alejandro Faurlin
Junior Hoilett
Hogan Ephraim
Shaun Wright-Phillips
Adel Taarabt
Jamie Mackie
Ji-sung Park
Esteban Granero

Strikers:
Andy Johnson
Bobby Zamora
Djibril Cisse

It is worth noting that Hughes has unlimited use from the U-21 squad, which means that rightback Michael Harriman, centre back Max Ehmer, midfielder Michael Doughty, and new signing Sam Magri, will all be looking to break through into the first-team squad.

Of the youngsters it would be good to see Doughty build on what was an impressive southeast Asian tour with the senior squad this summer and break into the first team, while U-21 captain Ehmer - now 20 - must make the transition this year or face the exit in the summer. It will be interesting to see at what stage of development Magri is at - great things are expected of him, and the Rs are hardly overwhelmed with choice in the centre of defence.

Follow Sean Smith on Twitter @seanshorn

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