Chris Weale can expect tough challenge for Rangers hot shots

Leicester City goalkeeper Chris Weale could have plenty of opportunity at QPR tonight to add to his growing reputation.

Weale has been a revelation for the club since his summer move from Bristol City.

And City fans have hailed the 27-year-old as the best keeper at the club since Marton Fulop, the Hungarian on loan at the Walkers Stadium for the 2007-08 season.

Weale has kept clean sheets in four of City's last five games, but he faces a QPR side which has scored 12 goals in three straight wins to elevate them to within a point of the play-offs.

City goalkeeping coach Mike Stowell says Weale is growing into the role of being a first-choice Championship keeper.

"He would quite like to be compared with Marton as he would be the first to admit that his career went a bit quiet at Bristol because he had injuries," said Stowell.

"But he is a joy to work with, as is the No.2, Conrad Logan."

Weale has made a number of crucial saves in the City cause already this season, including a vital stop at Reading on Monday not long before City grabbed the lead.

"People remember the top-class saves but Chris's general all-round play has been good too and he is always willing to learn."

Last season, City used six keepers during their League One title-winning campaign and Stowell added: "That was a bit different last year, but it's settled down now."

City could recall Swiss international Bruno Berner for tonight's clash at Loftus Road.

He has been left out of the last two matches with Pearson preferring to start with Manchester City loanee Ryan McGivern.

Martyn Waghorn, who was Monday night's goal hero at Reading, is also likely to retain his place ahead of Steve Howard.

QPR will again be without the suspended Ben Watson.

The on-loan Wigan midfielder serves the second game of his two-match ban for his recent sending-off against Reading – his second red card of the season.

Utility man Mikele Leigertwood returned as a substitute in the 4-2 win at Derby last weekend following a bout of swine flu and will push for a start either in midfield or at right-back.

However, Rangers are still missing a host of players through injury and illness.

Skipper Martin Rowlands is out for the season with a cruciate injury, defender Matthew Connolly is still missing with glandular fever and midfielder Hogan Ephraim (ankle), winger Lee Cook (knee) and strikers Angelo Balanta (groin) and Alessandro Pellicori (knee) are also sidelined.

Moroccon-born Adel Taarabt was among the scorers at Derby and Rangers have now been told Taarabt can stay with them until the end of the season – unless a Premiership club comes in for the on-loan Tottenham forward in January.