QPR boss Harry Redknapp hailed Niko Kranjcar after the Croatian playmaker rescued a point for his side against Stoke City on Saturday.
Kranjcar curled home a sensational free-kick two minutes from time to earn QPR a 2-2 draw at Loftus Road.
Ex-QPR striker Peter Crouch appeared to have handed Stoke boss Mark Hughes who endured a torrid 10 months in charge at Loftus Road in 2012 a happy return to the west London club when he fired the visitors ahead early in the second half after Steven Caulker had levelled Mame Biram Diouf s early opener.
However, Kranjcar had other ideas as he arced a fine set-piece beyond Asmir Begovic from 25 yards to ensure an under-par QPR snatched a valuable point.
And Redknapp was full of praise for the 30-year-old, who rejoined QPR from Dynamo Kiev on transfer deadline day.
It was a great finish from Niko he s got the quality to do that, he s a quality player, the 67-year-old, who has also managed the experienced midfielder at Tottenham and Portsmouth, said.
When we got the free-kick I was hoping he could pull the game out of the fire for us and he did that.
He was a free [transfer], we pay a third of what he earned in Russia [sic] that s how much he wanted to come back. It s very rare to see a boy do that.
Redknapp who confirmed that captain Joey Barton and midfielder Jordon Mutch both suffered hamstring injuries on Saturday went on to express his satisfaction at claiming a draw.
It s a good point today, make no mistake. It s a vital point, he added.
