John Carver expects to learn if he has been successful in his bid to earn the job of Newcastle head coach on a permanent basis within 48 hours of their final game of the season.

The 50-year-old insists he remains in pole position to upgrade his four-month interim status, despite winning just two of his 18 games in charge to leave the club's Premier League future in the balance.

Newcastle can clinch safety with a victory at already relegated QPR on Saturday, allied to Hull City failing to win at Tottenham.

His side have taken one point from the last 27 in the wake of an eight-game losing streak, but Carver hopes by leading his hometown club to safety he will head-off competition from a string of names to have been linked with the post vacated at St James' Park by Alan Pardew midway through the season.

Newcastle finish their campaign at home to West Ham a week on Sunday, and Carver said: "There have been no talks because I've been focused on the games.

"But I go away on holiday the Wednesday after the season finishes and I'd like to know where I am by then.

"Even if we get safe before that last match, I don't want any discussions before the West Ham game, to allow us to concentrate on trying to end the season on a high. Am I in pole position? Yes, because I have the job, and they have to take it off me now."

Carver is again without long-term injury absentees Cheick Tiote, Steven Taylor, Rob Elliot and Massadio Haidara as fourth-bottom Newcastle go in search of a first away win since January.

Forwards Siem de Jong and Adam Armstrong won't be at Loftus Road because of injury.

However, Dutch defender Daryl Janmaat is available after suspension, and French midfielder Gabriel Obertan returns to the squad as Newcastle look to stretch a 20-year unbeaten record against London club QPR to increase their two-point advantage on the bottom three.

QPR's relegation from the Premier League was confirmed last weekend following their dismal 6-0 defeat at Manchester City, and manager Chris Ramsey expects to learn of his own fate in the next week.

Ramsey was appointed on a short term contract in February and while Rangers chairman Tony Fernandes is expected extend the manager's stay, the club have yet to confirm whether or not they intend to make a change.

"I'm sure the club will make an announcement within the next week or so with what they're going to do," said Ramsey. "Nothing is 100 percent yet but I'm hoping I'll be in charge next season.

"I haven't spoken to them regarding myself for a good week or so in depth but we've brushed on it. They've told me we will make an announcement within the next week. I'm hoping it's going to be me.

"As far as I know there hasn't been an interview process but football managers tend to pop up when there's not an obvious interview process."

Ramsey has endured a testing first stint as manager with Rangers' former Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton claiming disruptive influences in the dressing room had not helped the west London side's cause.

"There were some issues, I'm not going to deny that, but we dealt with them at the time," said Ramsey.

"Unfortunately, these things happen in football and our dirty laundry has come out. We've dealt with those situations and what we need to do is draw a line underneath that and move on."