Transfer news: Struggling striker Bothroyd vows to score goals under Mark Hughes”
Jay Bothroyd has dismissed speculation linking him with a move away from Loftus Road this month, and insists Mark Hughes is the perfect man to help him rediscover his goal-scoring touch.
Former Cardiff City striker Bothroyd has scored just twice since he joined Rangers on a two-and-a-half year deal in July, with his last goal coming against Manchester City on November 5, and reports suggested that he could be set for a loan move.
The arrival of Manchester United youngster Federico Macheda has increased competition for places up front, while Brazilian forward Henrique also looks set to arrive this week and could further limit Bothroyd's chances.
However, Bothroyd, who played under Hughes for Blackburn Rovers during the 2004-05 season, insists he is going nowhere, and will fight for his place in the side.
"It's all just been rumours. I don't want to go anywhere, I've got a lot of belief in myself and I want to be successful at QPR," Bothroyd told London24.com.
"New signings don't bother me – to be a successful team you have to have a big enough squad. You have to welcome it, and raise your own game. It has been frustrating for me, I scored 20 goals last year but I haven’t reached that form this season.
"There's always going to be criticism and I accept that, but I believe in myself. Some of the best strikers in the world go through bad patches - that's football.
"It can be difficult in your first season, I think a lot of strikers before me have discovered that. Look at Fernando Torres and Andy Carroll this season.
"I've worked with Mark Hughes before and he's a terrific manager. He demands a lot, the players know what he wants and they give it to him."
Bothroyd is likely to feature as Hughes looks for his first victory in tonight's FA Cup third round replay against MK Dons.
A QPR win would set up a fourth-round tie against rivals Chelsea, but with a vital league match against bottom club Wigan Athletic at Loftus Road on Saturday, Bothroyd admits he would happily swap a cup run for Premier League survival.
"The league is the most important thing for us, everybody at the club knows that," he said. "It would be great to go on a cup run, and the FA Cup is a competition with a lot of history.
"But look at Birmingham last season, they won the Carling Cup and got into Europe, and then they were relegated. The priority for us is to cement our status in the Premier League, and Mark Hughes is the right man to help us achieve that."
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