Gino is up for Rangers' final push

Rangers will return to the First Division if they beat Swindon and Bristol City fail to get three points at Barnsley.

Padula puts his success down to being given a consistent run in the side, a luxury neither of his compatriots at Chelsea have enjoyed. The 26-year-old is a friend of Crespo's from their days as youngsters at River Plate and believes he will be a much-improved player next season.

Padula said: "Hernan has struggled a bit to adjust but needs to be given more time. At Chelsea he doesn't play every game, comes in and out of the side, which is difficult for him. Every player gains confidence by playing every week but at Chelsea they don't have confidence because the team changes every week. He'll get better with the more games he plays.

"Hernan is very normal, very humble. Some players who reach the highest level become different people and change but Hernan is the same as when he was a boy. I haven't been able to contact him, which is strange because we both live in London, but that's the way it is. Normally Argentine players stick together and I might see him in Buenos Aires in the summer."

Having travelled from the Argentine-capital, via Xerez in Spain, to Walsall five years ago, Padula knows all about being a stranger in a foreign land. Although living happily with his girlfriend in Ealing, he still suffers from homesickness and loneliness, with his Playstation and collection of Spanish films his main companions after training.

Padula is desperately looking forward to his family holiday in Buenos Aires, where his cousin Martin Padula plays for Third Division Sarmiento. He is sure Crespo and Veron feel the same.

He said: "It's hard for foreigners in England because of the language, the rain and the cold. I don't care about the weather and try to improve my English but it does affect some people.

"The football is very different and the defenders are all big and strong, but over the last few years I've done well. Argentine football is very different - there is more time and space to play - and in the English lower divisions it's very hard. But I'd like to stay here for many years because I'm very happy."

Padula has surprised himself by growing attached to English football but has no such feelings for the Second Division. He yearns to play at a higher level after making his professional debut as a teenager in the Argentine First Division for River Plate before being loaned to topflight club Hurucan.

He added: "When I arrived in England, I only thought I'd be here for six months but I've played for the last four years. I really like the players, the fans and the gaffer and want to repay them with promotion. Winning promotion would be the highlight of my career so far because I want to play at a high level in England.

"I played in the Argentine First Division six years ago so could play in the Premiership. There's not a big difference and it's only football. QPR are a big club and the team could do well in the First Division. In the next few years we could be in the Premiership."