Goalkeeper Andy Marshall has won his pre-season fight for a contract at Loftus Road and there is good news on key injuries ahead of the opening day, but youngster Romone Rose could be on his way out.

Marshall, 34, was released by Coventry City at the end of his contract last season with City’s first choice keeper Kieran Westwood named n the division’s team of the year and not likely to be shifted any time soon. Marshall has since spent the summer on trial at Loftus Road, impressing in several friendlies, under the guidance of Jim Magilton who signed the former Norwich man for Ipswich during his time at Portman Road. A good shot stopper with vast experience Marshall will provide ideal competition for QPR’s current number one Radek Cerny and the BBC report today that a one year contract will be signed within the next day or two.

Marshall may yet get his debut this Saturday as the R’s entertain Blackpool. Cerny is currently being kept away from the rest of the players after coming down with suspected Swine Flu. The club reports today that Cerny is due back into training tomorrow (Tuesday) and should make the Blackpool game all being well. There is further good news on the fitness front with Akos Buzsaky back in full training today after a thigh strain and Matt Connolly joining him despite sitting out the Southampton friendly on Saturday with a knock to his calf. Alejandro Faurlin and Mikele Leigertwood are unlikely to be fit however.

The league announced today that QPR v Blackpool, which is one of the featured matches on the BBC’s new Saturday night highlights programme incidentally, will be refereed by our old friend Andy D’Urso. More on him on LFW on Thursday.

One man not involved at Loftus Road on Saturday it seems is youngster Romone Rose. He impressed in cameo appearances last season, particularly at Burnley in the FA Cup replay, and looked sharp at Aldershot in pre-season in an unorthodox right back role. However the young winger was today in Northampton discussing terms with them, reports do not make it clear whether this will be a loan move or a permanent transfer.

Following a defeat at MK Dons on Saturday, in which Rose featured, Northampton manager Stuart Gray told the local Chronicle newspaper: “He started very positively. He struck a nice shot pretty early, which he was unlucky to miss the target with, and he's come in from a Championship club so he's got good pedigree. It was a bit of a last-minute thing because we had the game between QPR and Kettering watched and Jim Magilton has let him come and play for us. Fair play to him, he drove up here and played without really meeting anyone, and ended up getting thrown into it, so I need to sit down with him and talk about where we're going with it.”

In former QPR news life at York City has started positively for Richard Pacquette who scored a hat trick in a friendly against Selby at the weekend.

Elsewhere in the Championship today Middlesbrough have completed the signing of Leroy Lita on a three year contract while Mido heads the other way, back to Egypt. Cardiff City boss Dave Jones has told want away striker Ross McCormack he is “giving his shirt away” by moaning to the press about being behind Michael Chopra and Jay Bothroyd in the queue for a starting place. Hull City have shown an interest but nobody is willing to meet Cardiff’s ludicrous £5m valuation – McCormack missed his third penalty of the summer on Saturday as Cardiff lost 2-0 at home to Valencia. Coventry have had a bid accepted for Bristol City’s Michael McIndoe. Sheffield United have signed Blackburn keeper Mark Bunn on loan to cover for Paddy Kenny who may miss the start of the season with suspension for failing a drugs test during last season’s play offs.

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