Cardiff City goalkeeper Neil Etheridge has posted an Instagram update ahead of his side's important clash with QPR in the Welsh capital tonight.
The Bluebirds are unbeaten in their last six league matches following the 2-2 draw with Hull City over the weekend, but Neil Warnock's side have drawn in four of these outings and his side will now be targeting all three points when they host the Rs.
Etheridge has only made one league appearance this campaign after suffering an injury during the opening-day defeat to Wigan, with this having ruled him out of contention for six matches.
The Philippines international has since returned to Cardiff's match day squad and was named on the bench for the last two matches against Middlesbrough and Hull with Alex Smithies keeping his spot between the sticks.
Smithies did not make a single league appearance during his first season at the club last term and has already featured seven times, with the fact Cardiff only lost one of these matches helping him maintain his place with Etheridge back fit.
Etheridge has now
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Etheridge has made a total of 86 appearances for Cardiff since joining the club in the summer of 2017, while he attracted interest from Liverpool and Aston Villa over the summer following an impressive Premier League campaign last season.
The Verdict
Etheridge will now be seriously pushing to regain his spot in the Cardiff side ahead of the QPR game as he will not be happy sitting on the bench when he has now recovered from his injury troubles.
The 29-year-old was linked with a Premier League move over the summer and he will now be targeting a strong season in the Championship after a move failed to materialise.
Smithies has looked solid during his time between the sticks but he made an error leading to a goal against Hull on Saturday, and this could possibly be enough to see him dropped for tonight's match.
It could now be a good time for Warnock to re-introduce Etheridge to the side, as he was always bound to get his spot back at some point given his form last season.
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