QPR boss Neil Warnock is agonising over whether to start both Jay Bothroyd and Heidar Helguson against Manchester City this evening.

The one sliver of light at Spurs last Sunday was the 20 minutes after Bothroyd (pic) came on at half time, and together with Helguson, fashioned Rangers’ goal and the team’s best period in the 3-1 defeat.

Warnock has so far resisted the idea of pairing the two for longer, but reckons Bothroyd has undergone something of a rebirth in the last two weeks.

He said: “Jay’s got a little glint in his eye, and although he’s talked a good game – he’s playing one at the moment.

“It’s been the best training I’ve ever seen him do recently and he warranted coming on at Tottenham.

“I think there’s every chance over the next couple of games of bringing them together.”

As with the 1-0 win over Chelsea two weeks ago, the Hoops boss reckons all-out defence will scupper one of few chances Rs have against the league leaders.

He said: “They have to be below par and we have to be above them. And I don’t think we’re going to get a better result than Chelsea – but you never know. But if we defend, like Villarreal did midweek, you know City are going to score anyway.”

Warnock also praised the two Manchester bosses for their shrewd use of a huge budget – and reckoned there was a bit more than waving a big fat chequebook in fashioning a great team.

“Sir Alex (Ferguson) has had to deal with signing and looking for good players for 25 years, and it hasn’t been a bed of roses for (Roberto) Mancini as well over the last 18 months,” said Warnock.

“It’s not unfair they’ve got loads of money. You’ve still got to sign the right players and get them blended.

“We’ve spent a lot of money in respect of where we were 12 months ago. In a big club you’ve got to manage egos and deal with that sort of thing all the way down the leagues.”