Steve McClaren must get the best out of Alex Smithies this season

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The QPR goalkeeper has been magnificent for the club and Steve McClaren will need to ensure that Alex Smithies continues that trend

Alex Smithies has proved to be one of Queens Park Rangers’ most invaluable players since signing from Huddersfield Town in 2015.

The goalkeeper has saved an unrivalled eight penalties in his time at Loftus Road with half of them coming in the 2015/16 campaign alone.

A mightily impressive stat that surely would have seen QPR finish lower down the table than what they did if Smithies hadn’t been in between the sticks.

Boss Steve McClaren will be more than aware of the talents and attributes that Smithies has at his disposal and will need to make sure that the 28-year-old is at his best for the new season. The shot-stopper only registered seven clean sheets in the Championship last season; a poor return in the grand scheme of things.

However, out of the 43 league appearances Smithies made last year, it could be argued that QPR’s defence was somewhat suspect to say the least. Shipping an alarming 70 goals, the R’s clearly found it difficult to shut-up shop and if it was not for Smithies interventions, that tally would be much higher.

McClaren knows it’ll be a long and arduous season ahead and there’s always the danger that the likes of Smithies and other first team regulars could begin to cast their eye elsewhere. The former Terriers ‘keeper has often been linked with a move away from west London but nothing has ever come of it.

There’s no suggestion to say that Smithies is looking for a way out but McClaren needs to strike up a bond with his star goalie. The last two seasons have seen Rangers progress in once sense but stagnate in another. Psychologically, this can toy with a players’ mind as they’ll begin to question the direction of the club.

McClaren does have his work cut-out. The 57-year-old needs to get his whole squad firing on all cylinders and pulling in the same direction. If he doesn’t, QPR could be in for an uneasy campaign but if Smithies is up to the task, expect him to bail the Hoops out once again.