Hoop Dreams - QPR FC

It can always take footballers time to adjust to being back in a team after a lengthy period on the sidelines; I'd argue this is particularly true of the men between the sticks, the goalkeepers, who build their performances as much on their mental powers of concentration, communication and confidence (the three C's which I just invented - feel free to copy these) as on their physical attributes and footballing skills.

Unfortunately for QPR keeper Radek Cerny, there will be no period of adjustment after Carl Ikeme's return to Wolves as the Championship season nears its conclusion. Every point counts and any mistakes could be costly and the Czech keeper will be thrown straight into the lions' den tomorrow for Rangers' visit to Crystal Palace, with just two points separating the sides and just three safeguarding QPR from the bottom three.

Cerny hasn't donned the keeper's jersey since 12th January, when the three goals he conceded saw Rangers dumped out of the FA Cup by Sheffield United. Ikeme took his place for the next seventeen games, and though he could only point to one clean sheet in that time, Cerny was hardly unstoppable prior to that, with just three shut-outs in Rangers' first 24 league games.

That statistic is surprising because in the previous season, Cerny's first with the club in which he ousted fan favourite Lee Camp from the position, he managed 47 appearances in all competitions and the Hoops conceded just 44 league goals. By comparison, 63 goals have found their way into the Rangers net this season, with only two teams, Preston and Scunthorpe, suffering from a worse defensive record on their travels.

All of which could put Palace in buoyant mood before tomorrow's game, particularly as they've managed nine goals in their last three games. But Cerny will be playing not only for his team tomorrow, but also for his first chance to impress Neil Warnock and stake a claim to be QPR's keeper next season. The 36-year old goalie, who spent three years on loan at Tottenham before joining QPR, will be loathe to start looking for another club at this stage of his career and will want assurances before the summer that he is first in Warnock's mind. The part he plays in Rangers' final five games could be crucial in gaining that assurance, with tricky fixtures against Cardiff and Newcastle before the season is out and another relegation six-pointer against Watford in just over a week's time.

To add another layer to the pressure on the keeper tomorrow, if rumours are correct, Warnock could also have one eye on the man in the opposition's goal. He already knows a great deal about Argentinean Julian Speroni, the Palace keeper throughout Warnock's three year spell with the club. In fact, following QPR's home game against Palace last November, when Warnock was sitting in the opposition dug-out, he was glowing with praise for him after he pulled off a succession of top-drawer saves to deny Alejandro Faurlin, Akos Buzsaky and Rowan Vine during the 1-1 draw.

"He's the best keeper in this division by a mile and I don't see anyone better in the Premier League," said Warnock after the game.

"It's good that nobody rates him. But he's not leaving this club while I'm manager - unless I take him somewhere with me."

What was most likely meant as a joke at the time now takes on a stranger tone considering the events in the proceeding six months, in which time it's unlikely his opinion of the keeper has vastly changed. Rangers will just be praying they do not suffer in the face of another world-class performance from the 30-year-old tomorrow.

Cerny has been commended by Ikeme and by QPR's goalkeeping coach for his professionalism during his enforced absence though and the close working relationship between Cerny and Ikeme was one of the reasons the latter player enjoyed his stay in west London so much. Cerny also had to win over Rangers' fans already on his arrival - now he will be confident of doing so all over again, while winning over his new boss as well.

In short, though it's rare they hog the headlines, all eyes could be on the keepers at either end of the pitch tomorrow.