One to Watch – Jay Bothroyd

Top meets second on Saturday, and Vital QPR has identified Jay Bothroyd as the One to Watch in a Cardiff City side determined to reclaim top spot from the Rs.

Name: Jay Bothroyd

Date of Birth: 05/05/1982

Former Clubs: Coventry City, Perugia, Blackburn Rovers, Charlton Athletic, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Stoke City

Appearances (Goals): 282 (70)

In form Jay Bothroyd will be looking to add to his impressive tally of 13 league goals this season as Cardiff City travel to Loftus Road in the hope of coming out on top in a top of the league clash.

Having recently won his first international cap for England, Bothroyd is certainly in goalscoring form and the Rangers defence will surely face its toughest test yet.

Originally an Arsenal trainee, Bothroyd was sold to Coventry City after a controversial incident involving Bothroyd throwing his shirt at the bench after being substituted in the 2000 Premier League Youth Cup final.

Despite failing to make a first team appearance for Arsenal he cost Coventry £1 million where he went on to spend three years at The Sky Blues. Despite being a hot prospect with plenty of talent Bothroyd`s motivation and poor temperament was questioned, and he only featured after many of the clubs major players were sold to relieve the club`s financial problems. With only 14 goals in 72 appearances he moved on a free transfer to Italian side Perugia after his contract expired in 2003.

Bothroyd made 28 league appearances for Perugia but only managed a measly 5 goals, and having had trouble settling in Italy he moved to Blackburn Rovers on loan in August 2004. Only one goal in 11 appearances followed and a notable red card against Norwich City for violent conduct saw Bothroyd fail to cement a regular starting place and he returned to Perugia at the end of the season.

In August 2005 Bothroyd signed for Charlton Athletic but only managed two goals in 18 appearances for The Addicks. Then manager Iain Dowie decided to release the striker at the end of the season where Bothroyd was eventually signed by Mick McCarthy for Wolves. An impressive start to his Wolves career saw him net three times in his first six appearances for the club, but his goalscoring form soon dried up and he once again found himself out of first team contention.

A short loan spell to Stoke City followed, where he was eventually signed by Championship side Cardiff City for a fee believed to be around £350 000. Having netted 12 and 11 goals in his first two seasons respectively for the Welsh side, Bothroyd has started the 2010/2011 in scintillating form and with 15 goals in all competitions already, the 28 year old will be determined to keep up his goalscoring performances.

With Arsene Wenger describing the striker as a ‘classy left footed player with fantastic technique’ the Rs players will have to be on the lookout for Bothroyd linking up with an impressive Cardiff attack.




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