QPR boss issues challenge to keeper Green

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QPR manager Mark Hughes has challenged Rob Green to fight for his place rather than seek a quick exit from Loftus Road.

The under-fire goalkeeper, a summer signing from West Ham, has made a poor start to his Rangers career and faces the prospect of being replaced by Julio Cesar.

Brazilian star Cesar’s arrival from Inter Milan is expected to be rubber-stamped next week and it has been reported that Green may seek a move when the transfer reopens in January.

Cesar has agreed a move.

Losing his first-team place would also see Green slip further down the pecking order of England goalkeepers.

But Hughes said: “That isn’t my concern, to be perfectly honest. That may well concern Rob, but from my point of view I’ve got to make sure that we’re strong as a club.

“If, in the future, either of the keepers came to me and felt their future lay elsewhere then we’d have a conversation about that and make a decision that we felt benefited everyone.

“But at the moment it’s early days and the challenge is there. Rob’s been a top keeper for many years and I’m sure he’s ready for the challenge.”

Green’s early mistake on his R’s debut led to the first of Swansea’s goals in a 5-0 hammering of Hughes’ side on the opening day of the campaign.

He also looked shaky in subsequent matches against Walsall and his former club Norwich.

But Hughes continues to insist that the proposed signing of Cesar is not a response to Green’s poor form.

Hughes, who held talks with Green this week, said: “It’s important that he doesn’t feel this is a knee-jerk thing.

“It’s something that presented itself only four or five days ago, when we were told Cesar may look favourably on coming to Queens Park Rangers.

“We tried to pursue it and see how far we went with it, perhaps without ever really believing we could end up bringing a goalkeeper of his quality to the club.

“But we managed it and obviously that will have some impact on Rob because it’s big competition for him and he understands that.”

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