Match Report: QPR 0-2 Stoke

Peter Crouch and Jonathan Walters were on the scoresheet as Stoke beat QPR to move six points clear of the relegation places.
QPR, now resigned to relegation from the Premier League, created plenty of chances at Loftus Road as livewire Loic Remy saw two first-half shots saved by Asmir Begovic. Remy also bent a wicked effort wide from 25 yards while Walters' volley was spilled by Rob Green at the other end. Stoke, whose last point away from the Britannia Stadium came in a goalless draw at Tottenham before Christmas, took the lead three minutes before half time when Cameron Jerome's cross found Crouch to side-foot the ball home from six-yards, his first goal in 23 games for the Potters. Rangers almost equalised after 55 minutes when Remy danced around three Stoke defenders before firing a shot straight at Begovic, but that was the closest Harry Redknapp's side came to turning the game around. Charlie Adam should have doubled Stoke's lead just after the hour mark when he met Crouch's flick on at the far post but lifted his volley over from close range. Ten minutes later Stoke were awarded a penalty when Rob Huth's header came back off the post and Clint Hill pulled Crouch to ground as the striker tried to get a toe on the rebound. Walters was made to take the spot-kick twice after being made to retake his initial successful penalty but made no mistake at the second attempt, lashing the ball into the bottom left corner of Green's goal. QPR remain 10 points adrift of safety and are surely now contemplating life in the Championship next season, while Stoke's hopes of survival have been boosted by only their second win in 15 league outings.

Redknapp "Keane" to bring Robbie to QPR

QPR boss Harry Redknapp is interested in signing Los Angeles Galaxy striker Robbie Keane in January.
The 32-year-old played under Redknapp at Tottenham and, with the Major League Soccer season over, could be available on a short-term deal similar to that which took him to Aston Villa last season.“Robbie Keane is a good shout,” Redknapp said in the Daily Telegraph. “I haven’t spoken to him yet but he would be an interesting player. He’s a good pro and he’d be an ideal type to have around.” Harry Redknapp knows all about Robbie Keane from their shared time together at White Hart Lane and the Irish international has just completed a very successful season with the LA Galaxy, the 32 year old helping his side to an MLS Cup Final triumph, and the idea of a couple of months Premier League action will certainly interest the prolific forward.However a lot clearly depends on whether LA Galaxy are open to such a switch that on the one hand keeps their prized asset fresh over the US mid-season break but on the other hand could result in an injury to the striker.
QPR are still without a win this season and though Harry Redknapp has stabilized things at the back with back to back draws it is clear that there is a distinct lack of effective firepower in his Loftus Road squad. The West London side have managed just 11 goals in 15 top tier matches this season.
Keane scored 22 goals in 34 appearances for the LA Galaxy in the season that ended a week ago so is likely to be fighting fit and fresh enough to make an instant impact at QPR.

Rio and Anton Ferdinand issue statement as race row rumbles on

It has been a year since the incident at Loftus Road. During that time, some of the deep divisions that exist in football have been exposed. In the coming months there will be ongoing discussions, we are sure, on finding a way forward. We intend to participate in these discussions, along with numerous other current and ex-professionals of all races, from the grass roots upwards, across the football community as a whole.

On the issue of Kick It Out, we would like to go on record to say what fantastic work they have done in the past regarding education and awareness. However, times change and organisations need to change with them. We are more than happy to join the discussion, privately, to make Kick It Out more relevant in its fight to stamp out racism in football.

Although we have been left disappointed by the PFA and the FA's actions over the last year, as a family, we are committed to working with football's existing organisations towards the betterment of the game and to achieve immediate action.

We would like to thank all the fans and the staff at Queens Park Rangers and Manchester United for their support in what has been a difficult year. In particular we want to thank Sir Alex Ferguson and Mark Hughes.

We will not be discussing publicly any issues connected with the case. We are now going to concentrate on playing football.

- Rio and Anton Ferdinand

Match Report :Man City 3 QPR 1

Manchester City strolled to a 3-1 win at home to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

Goals from Yaya Toure, Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez at Eastlands continued City's unbeaten start to their title defence.

With Jose Mourinho, manager of City's Champions League opponents Real Madrid, watching from the stands, the hosts did concede an equaliser to Bobby Zamora in the second half, rekindling memories of the last time the clubs faced each other.

Four months on from that last extraordinary meeting between the sides, in which City's 3-2 victory on the concluding day of last season brought them their first English title in 44 years, Mancini's men took the lead after 15 minutes.

Following a prolonged spell of City pressure, David Silva's right-wing corner was met at the far post by Tevez whose first-time volley rebounded against Zamora with the unmarked Yaya Toure handily-place to slot the ball in from 10 yards out.

It was an impressive opening from a City side which did not include any of their five transfer deadline day signings - Javi Garcia, Matija Nastasic, Maicon, Scott Sinclair and Richard Wright -- in their starting line-up.

Indeed, City were so dominant QPR's only relief came when another of the home team's recent signings, midfielder Jack Rodwell hit a ridiculous back-pass which almost bounced into his own goal from half-way.

Robert Green subsequently saved well from Silva and the Spanish international forward should have done better when he took Aleksandar Kolarov's superb cross-field pass in his stride but waited to shoot and saw his effort charged down by Fabio da Silva.

The second half opened with Dzeko releasing Tevez who advanced and had a strong shot stopped by the chest of goalkeeper Green at QPR's near post and the relentless waves of Blue pressure continued as Silva cleverly played in over-lapping full-back Pablo Zabaleta whose well-directed shot struck the underside of the crossbar.

City's defensive frailties have been exposed already this season, in conceding four goals in their opening two matches. So while it was against the run of play, Rangers' equaliser after 58 minutes was not quite as unpredictable a goal as it should have been.

Andrew Johnson dispossessed Silva in midfield and sprinted into the City area where his fierce shot was kept out by the acrobatic dive of Joe Hart, Zamora reacting quickly to stoop and head the rebound into the home goal.

Still, given the manner of City's victory in last season's corresponding fixture, the fact it took Mancini's team just three minutes to regain the lead was no surprise.

Kolarov found the space, and Tevez, in the QPR area, with the forward skilfully taking the ball to the byline where his cross was headed in emphatically by Dzeko.

There was still plenty of City possession before the final whistle, and some anxious moments for home supporters too. QPR defender Ryan Nelsen twice came close from set-pieces, his bicycle kick flying beyond the far post and then the New Zealand international slid in and almost converted Esteban Granero's free-kick.

But Argentina striker Tevez completed the scoring in the 93rd minute when he deflected Dzeko's wayward strike past the wrong-footed Green.

QPR land Samba Diakité

Mali international Samba Diakité has signed a four-year contract with Queens Park Rangers, where he had been on loan since January from French Ligue 1 team Nancy.QPR and the 23-year-old defensive midfielder settled for a €4 million deal, according to reports.Diakite was born in France and holds a French passport but was called up to the Malian national team prior to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, becoming a member of the squad that won bronze at the showpiece.He signed his first professional contract with Nancy in December 2009, appearing 41 times before being loaned to play at the Loftus Road early this year.

Barton hit with 12 game ban

QPR midfielder Joey Barton has been banned for a total of 12 matches and fined £75,000 following his dismissal against Manchester City.The Football Association confirmed an independent regulatory commission found Barton guilty of two counts of violent conduct. The FA announced Barton received an automatic four-game suspension, with the additional eight matches a consequence of the manner of his dismissal.QPR had previously announced their intention to carry out their own investigation once Barton's case had been dealt with by the FA. Barton was shown a red card at the Etihad Stadium for elbowing Carlos Tevez, and he then kicked Sergio Aguero before attempting to headbutt Vincent Kompany.
He denied the charge of violent conduct against Kompany but the FA said the case against Barton was found to be proved.
An FA statement said: "An independent regulatory commission has today dealt with two charges of violent conduct against Joey Barton, arising from the game against Manchester City, resulting in an eight-match suspension and £75,000 fine for the Queens Park Rangers midfielder. This eight-match suspension is to run consecutively to the four-game suspension Barton was already given for his dismissal in the fixture, making a total of 12 matches."
Barton's acts were condemned by the chairman of the regulatory commission, who stated: "There are rules of conduct that should be adhered to, and such behaviour tarnishes the image of football in this country, particularly as this match was the pinnacle of the domestic season and watched by millions around the globe."

QPR to show Barton the door

Queens Park Rangers will tell Joey Barton that he is not wanted at the club and is free to leave. The midfielder faces at least a 10-match ban for his appalling behaviour against Manchester City on Sunday when he was sent off for elbowing Carlos Tevez.Barton will be banned for four matches because it was his second red card of the season and he will also face further bans at the "discretion" of a commission after being charged by the FA last night for kicking Sergio Aguero and attempting to headbutt Vincent Kompany. He refused to leave the pitch at the Etihad Stadium, which may even see the ban extended to 12 matches, and the FA could also eventually charge him for a series of distasteful comments on Twitter.However, QPR manager Mark Hughes had already decided before Barton's latest misdemeanours that the midfielder was not part of his plans and should leave for the good of the club. He has lost patience with Barton, who has also performed poorly this season.The significant problem for QPR will be to try to find a buyer for Barton, who is the club's highest-paid player and has three years left on a contract that pays him up to £80,000 a week.Nevertheless Hughes, who has been privately critical of Barton for some time, is determined to try to make sure he leaves the club and the 29-year-old is also expected to be fined heavily for his latest behaviour.To add further insult to Barton's behaviour it is believed that, as part of the contract he signed last summer after being told to leave Newcastle United, he is due a bonus of about £250,000 because QPR have avoided relegation.After the game at the Etihad Stadium, Barton tweeted: "Still not my proudest moment but who gives a f***, we are safe... and that is all that matters."

He then denounced the "nuggets" who had predicted that the club would be relegated. To add further insult, Barton was back on Twitter on Sunday evening to abuse the BBC Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer following the former striker's criticism of his dismissal.

In an expletive-littered rant Barton attacked Shearer and then, yesterday, turned his attention to the show's host, Gary Lineker.

City Lift the Title in Dramatic style

Manchester City scored twice in stoppage time to be crowned champions for the first time in 44 years by beating Queens Park Rangers to win the Premier League on goal difference amid almost unbearable drama.
City's hopes of claiming the title looked to slipping away as QPR - already safe after Stoke City drew with Bolton - held on desperately to an unlikely lead and Manchester United led at Sunderland.City, needing three points to clinch the prize, led through Pablo Zabaleta at half-time but Djibril Cisse levelled for QPR just after the break.QPR lost Joey Barton after he was shown a red card following a clash with Carlos Tevez but then stunned the Etihad Stadium into silence as Jamie Mackie headed them in front.City set up permanent camp in QPR's half but looked to be condemned to misery as QPR keeper Paddy Kenny produced a string of saves to ensure Mark Hughes' side held firm.Then, as the clock ticked into five minutes of additional time, City and their supporters were transported from the depths of despondency the highest high in the space of moments.Substitute Edin Dzeko headed an equaliser two minutes into the extra period and then - in a stadium almost bordering on hysteria - Sergio Aguero drove into the penalty area and flashed a finish past Kenny.The Etihad Stadium was an explosion of joy and relief as 44 years of frustration poured out, Aguero wheeling his shirt about his head in celebration and manager Roberto Mancini, who had cut an increasingly frantic figure, racing around on the turf in ecstasy.As Mike Dean's final whistle blew, the reality dawned on City as they capped a run of form that has seen them overturn United's eight-point advantage in the space of five weeks.And for supporters who have suffered watching the successes of neighbours United under Sir Alex Ferguson, this was the perfect moment of redemption.The atmosphere was a mixture of the tense and triumphal as the teams came out to a torrent of golden ticker tape raining down from the stands.
QPR's intentions soon became clear as City ran into massed ranks of resistance and the early celebratory mood became tense as Mancini's side struggled to fashion clear-cut chances.The breakthrough finally came six minutes before half-time. Yaya Toure had been struggling for some time with a hamstring injury, but he was able to play in Zabaleta and his shot squirmed through the hands of QPR keeper Kenny and in off the far post.QPR were level shortly after the restart when Cisse took advantage of Joleon Lescott's poor header to beat Hart - but they were then plunged even further into a rearguard action when Barton was sent off.

 He will claim he was provoked by Tevez, but he can have no complaints as he raised his arm to the Argentine and then kicked his fellow countryman Aguero after he received the red card.QPR lifted the siege in stunning fashion when Mackie stole in at the far post to head them in front and all City's efforts were thwarted as Kenny saved well from David Silva, Aguero and Dzeko among others.It looked like the day that had started for City with such anticipation and expectation was going to end in despair - then came the finale and the goals from Dzeko and Aguero that will live forever in the memories of every City fan who witnessed them.

QPR set To Land Brazilian Striker

QPR were last night closing in on a deal to sign highly-rated Brazilian striker Henrique from Sao Paulo.The player is on his way to England to sign the paperwork and undertake a medical at the Loftus Road club.The player came to the attention of several European clubs while starring in last year’s Under-20 World Cup. He was the tournament’s top scorer and was voted best player.Henrique is strong and bullish, packs a good finish and is technically sound. He will work hard for the team even if he is not scoring and has the potential to play from wide if required.After the succesful World Cup campaign, Henrique threatened to leave São Paulo, but signed a new five-year deal in August with a substantial pay-rise. At the time, he had even thought of legal-action against the club for breach of contract over his lack of playing time. However, with Luis Fabiano's return to fitness and the rise of Ademilson, his prospects for game-time in 2012 once again look threatened and so, once more he is looking to move on. Henrique, 20, looks likely to move to Loftus Road on an initial loan deal with a view to a permanent switch.

Samba set for £8M QPR Move

Chris Samba will ignore Harry Redknapp's Spurs and looks set to join QPR instead after Mark Hughes' appointment at Loftus Road today. Samba was on QPR's list of targets before Hughes took charge but was understood to be 'lukewarm' about playing under Neil Warnock who was sacked on Sunday after a run of poor results. However, the £8million-rated defender would be much happier to link up with the man who brought him to the Premier League from Germany while he was in the Ewood Park hotseat. It has now been reported that Samba has told friends he is excited about linking up with a manager who gave him his break, but QPR will first have to match Rovers valuation for the player, who signed a new deal with Blackburn only last season.

Spurs and Arsenal Eye QPR Midfielder

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly set to clash with rivals Arsenal for the signature of Queens Park Rangers midfielder Alejandro Faurlin. The highly-rated 25-year-old has impressed in the Premier League this season and it is rumoured that the Hoops have set a price tag of £10 million for the Argentinean. Faurlin’s form for QPR has already alerted Italian giants Inter Milan, with Tottenham and Arsenal also watching the situation closely. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has been linked with a move for the playmaker, who is seen as a possible replacement for Luka Modric - subject of a £40m bid from Chelsea in the summer. Further offers for the Croatian international are expected in January and Redknapp is exploring other options in case the club decides to sell him.

Match Report Tottenham 3 QPR 1

Two goals from Gareth Bale and one from Rafael van der Vaart helped Tottenham Hotspur secure a 3-1 victory at home to QPR. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp recalled the fit-again Ledley King to the heart of the home defence, while Armand Traore started at left-back for Rangers in place of Clint Hill. The home side started brightly and after Rafael van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor had wasted chances, Spurs hit the front with 20 minutes on the clock. A fluent Tottenham attack ended with the ball being played out to the arriving Gareth Bale on the left and he lashed a left-foot shot past the stranded Paddy Kenny from 15 yards. Just past the half-hour mark it was 2-0 as King attempted a shot from distance which fell to the unmarked van der Vaart in the area and he despatched a left-foot shot into the corner of the net. Luka Modric then swerved a left-foot volley just wide of the far post as Spurs ended the half in total charge. Rangers made a double change at the interval and just past the hour mark one of the substitutes, Jay Bothroyd, halved the deficit as he headed home after Heidar Helguson headed a corner back across the goal. Ten minutes later Spurs restored their two-goal cushion as Bale and Aaron Lennon played a one-two and the Welshman curled a fine left-footer past the despairing dive of Kenny. Adebayor should have added a fourth, while the R's had two efforts cleared off the line deep into stoppage time at the end of the game.

Warnock: Taarabt Free To Leave

QPR manager Neil Warnock has told Adel Taarabt and the rest of his squad that they were free to leave the club if they wanted to. Rangers have had to deal with speculation linking clubs with moves for their star players since their promotion to the Barclays Premier League, with talisman Taarabt the main subject of such reports. The midfielder allegedly fuelled the flames further while on international duty with Morocco, with reports emerging he told the media he wanted to leave QPR in January for financial reasons. Warnock has taken the comments "with a pinch of salt" but admitted that Taarabt, like the rest of his squad, was free to leave the west Londoners if he so desired. "He has not said anything to me [about wanting to leave]," Warnock said, speaking ahead of Saturday's clash with Blackburn. "I do take it with a pinch of salt when they go abroad [and reports come out]. It is only six weeks since Adel said he would never play for his country again and then he scores a goal and kisses the coach. That's Adel. You take everything with a pinch of a salt. "My message is the same with every player at the club, not just Adel. If a player wants to leave, he can leave. I've never had a problem with that."

Defender completes switch to Loftus Road

Left-back Armand Traore has joined the QPR revolution after completing his move from Arsenal on a three-year deal. The 21-year-old spent time on loan with Serie A outfit Juventus last season and has made just one Premier League appearance for the Gunners in the last 15 months in Sunday's 8-2 defeat to Manchester United. Traore has now completed his move across London and becomes the third signing of the Tony Fernandes era following Joey Barton and Luke Young. "When I talked to Neil Warnock he was very passionate about what I could bring to the club," the Frenchman told the club's official website. "He was very motivated about playing me week in, week out, and that's what I need at this stage of my career. I've not been able to prove and show what I'm all about because I've been at two big, big clubs like Juventus and Arsenal. "I'm looking forward to coming here and playing regular football. The ambition of the new owners and the calibre of players they are signing is something that really attracted me to the club."

Match Report: Wigan 2 QPR 0

A Franco Di Santo brace maintained Wigan's unbeaten start at the start of the Premier League campaign with a win over QPR. Wigan made a bright start to the game but it was QPR who came closest with Shaun Derry forcing an early stop out of Ali Al-Habsi with a 30-yard drive. Hugo Rodallega and Victor Moses shared the chances for the hosts but both failed to trouble Paddy Kenny from close range. QPR boss Neil Warnock will be cursing his luck this afternoon as Adel Taarabt came inches away from opening the scoring on two occasions. Twice the QPR star man saw efforts come back off the post before Di Santo netted a sublime 20-yard volley on 41 minutes. Taarabt almost equalised immediately when his long range free-kick deflected off the wall but an in-form Al-Habsi was on hand again to deny the visitors. Di Santo's goal clearly boosted his confidence and on 66 minutes the little Italian took the ball off the toes of Rodallega on the edge of the QPR box and struck a right-footed shot which nestled in the top corner after taking a wicked deflection. QPR had a late penalty appeal turned down when Derry seemed to be brought down in the box by Al-Habsi before Rangers were again denied by the frame of the goal when Bruno Perone's header came back off the crossbar.

Barton Set for QPR

Premier League new boys QPR are ready to smash their wage structure to offer midfielder Joey Barton a £30,000-a-week pay rise. Barton was having a medical last night after telling a friend: “I’ll talk to QPR because Newcastle don’t want me, so I have to go somewhere.” He later tweeted: “Going for a medical now, still no contract offer from NUFC... think that just about makes my mind up. Don’t want to leave Newcastle. I’ve made that clear but my hands are tied.”Barton has less than 12 months on his £70,000-a-week deal at St James’ Park after being refused a new contract and dumped on the transfer list following a fall-out with boss Alan Pardew. He made matters worse with a blistering attack, saying the club lacked ambition under owner Mike Ashley. However, Barton, 28, played in both Newcastle’s Premier League games this season After his £35m takeover, new majority shareholder Tony Fernandes made the quest for Barton part of a charm-offensive, also cutting ticket prices after massive increases this summer

Match Report: QPR 0 Bolton 4

QPR began life back in the top flight with a heavy loss as Bolton taught them a painful lesson in the unforgiving nature of Premier League football. The home side fared well in the first period but trailed at half-time after Gary Cahill's superb 25-yard shot. Bolton excelled in the second half and seized an unbreakable hold on the game through Danny Gabbidon's own goal and Ivan Klasnic's deflected strike. Fabrice Muamba slotted in a fourth before QPR's Clint Hill was sent off. It was a miserable but fitting ending to the game for the home side, who faded quickly in the second half in the face of a powerful and thoroughly professional away performance from Wanderers. The Trotters had been asked by their manager Owen Coyle to improve on a positive 2010-11 campaign and made impressive first strides towards delivering on that request. QPR have also made great steps forward in recent years, but their ascent to the top flight for the first time since 1996 has been somewhat tainted by issues off the pitch regarding the potential sale of the club, a lack of big-money signings and a significant increase in ticket prices, which has left many fans aggrieved. There were noticeable gaps in the stands at Loftus Road but a sense of optimism prevailed, which was initially prolonged by what was a positive, if somewhat naive, first-half display from their team. They almost made the perfect start to life back in the Premier League when new signing DJ Campbell flicked the ball into the Bolton net from six yards, but the striker was rightly adjudged to have been offside. Campbell was to have a reasonably positive debut, suggesting he could repeat last season's feats with Blackpool for his new club, but the same could not be said of fellow summer recruit Kieron Dyer, who was taken off on a stretcher in just the seventh minute after falling awkwardly in a tackle. It was feared he had broken a bone in his foot but manager Neil Warnock confirmed there had been no break. The Hoops did not let it affect them, though, and fashioned a number of chances but playmaker Adel Taraabt, who was largely shackled throughout, chipped one wide and Jay Bothroyd saw the best of these headed over by Gretar Steinsson. In first half stoppage time, Bolton demonstrated the need to take your chances in the Premier League when Cahill collected the ball 25 yards out and curled an excellent shot into the far corner to give his side the lead. The second half belonged to Bolton, who extended their lead when Chris Eagles' free-kick was deflected into his own net by Danny Gabbidon in the 67th minute before sealing their win three minutes later when Klasnic's shot from inside the box was deflected in by Bradley Orr. With 11 minutes to go Muamba collected from Klasnic and strode through to side-foot in a fourth before Hill completed QPR's horror-show by getting himself sent off for headbutting Bolton's Martin Petrov in the chest in the last minute.

Stoke join QPR in Crouch Chase

Stoke boss Tony Pulis has joined the race for Tottenham striker Peter Crouch.Pulis is planning a £10m bid for the England star after missing out on top targets Carlton Cole and Cameron Jerome.The former Liverpool, Portsmouth and Aston Villa player is also wanted by QPR, but the Premier League new-boys cannot ­afford the fee.Pulis met with Stoke chairman Peter Coates yesterday to discuss a move for Crouch, who has been told he can leave Spurs after netting only one league goal last season.Coates said: “It is true a striker remains Tony’s priority and we would expect that to happen. We are confident we will be able to improve the squad before the deadline closes and there is a long way to go before that ­happens of course.“We are working on a few things, but football is a messy business and these things take time.”Pulis is looking to bolster his front-line after selling Tuncay in January and off-­loading John Carew at the end of the season.

Crouch – who has racked up transfer fees of over £30m in his career – has the European experience Pulis will require as he tries to guide Stoke through the Europa League.

QPR interested in Crouch

Peter Crouch could be set for a dramatic return to former club Queens Park Rangers.Neil Warnock has been frustrated in his attempts to add to his squad ahead of the club's return to the Barclay's Premier League but wants the Tottenham striker to spearhead his attack.Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is desperate to land Manchester City's Emmanuel Adebayor, which would cast Crouch's future into doubt.Crouch, 30, wants regular first-team football but is keen to remain in London, which limits his potential options.And the beanpole hitman could be receptive to rejoining the club where he made his League debut in 2000.Spurs need to off-load players to fund their bid for Adebayor as they must see off Real Madrid, whose valuation of the Togo striker is capped at £10million.Warnock, who has so far been restricted to free transfers, will have to convince QPR's owners to stump around £6m for Crouch.But he believes he is close to convincing the club's hierarchy that significant investment is needed if they are to remain in the Premier League.

QPR close in on Jay Bothroyd

QPR will step up their chase for England striker Jay Bothroyd now the transfer window is officially open.
Despite the confusion surrounding the position of current Loftus Road boss Neil Warnock, the Hoops top brass are pressing ahead in pursuit of their summer targets.And, after failing to persuade Newcastle winger Wayne Routledge and Peterborough hitman Craig Mackail-Smith to sign for them in recent days, the west Londoners are now turning their attention towards Bothroyd .Having scored 41 times in 116 league games for Cardiff, Bothroyd appears finally to be fulfilling the huge potential he first showed as a youth player at Arsenal.

However, that impressive return for the Welsh club, which earned him an England cap last season, has not been enough to attract significant interest in his services from more established Premier League clubs.

Even though Bothroyd, who will be 29 in August, is a free transfer after refusing to sign a new deal with Cardiff, only Celtic have made a serious inquiry to date.

But the former Coventry hitman is believed to be keen on a move to QPR – as long as they prove they have the ambition to survive in the top flight.