QPR v PETERBOROUGH U Westwood saves day for Warbs
VETERAN stopper Keiren Westwood is set to make his QPR debut against Peterborough United this afternoon - barely 24 hours after completing his medical.
The 37-year-old Irishman has been without a club since being released by Sheffield Wednesday last summer and was reportedly on the verge of retirement.
But an unprecedented goalkeeper crisis in west London prompted Hoops boss Mark Warburton to bring Westwood in from the cold.
An injury to David Marshall, who tore his hamstring in the midweek defeat to Nottingham Forest, means QPR are now down FOUR keepers, with first choice Seny Dieng (quad), understudy Jordan Archer (shoulder) and youngster Joe Walsh (hand) all sidelined.
“We had four wingbacks out earlier in the season, which is quite remarkable, and now we have four goalkeepers out,” said Warburton. “I have never seen anything like it in my life.”
QPR invoked emergency loan rules that allow teams to sign goalkeepers outside of the transfer window so long as no professional keeper (ie one who has started a minimum of five pro games) is available.
However, with Premier League loans banned under the regulations and time of the essence, Warburton reasoned that a free agent would be the simplest solution, with Westwood passing a medical on Friday before signing a short-term contract.
Warburton, who is also without influential attacker Chris Willock, will be hoping that Westwood can help to rekindle QPR’s flagging playoff push. Peterborough have concerns of their own, with victories now essential if they are to have any hope of avoiding an immediate return to League One.
Posh began the weekend bottom, seven points adrift of safety.
“People will look at the table and see the seven-point gap and think that it’s all over, but we will keep plugging away,” said manager Grant McCann.