Bristol City boss Gary Johnson is convinced rookie goalkeeper Stephen Henderson has a big future in football – providing he keeps on the straight and narrow.

Promoted to the substitutes' bench at Queens Park Rangers today, the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international has an opportunity to press his first-team claims now that Chris Weale has been farmed out on loan to Yeovil Town.

Out of contract at the end of the season, Weale may well decide he has had enough of acting as understudy to the impressive Adriano Basso and seek pastures new, leaving former Aston Villa trainee Henderson to contest the goalkeeper's jersey with the Brazilian.

City manager Johnson has no doubt about the young Irishman's ability, but insists questions remain regarding his off-field behaviour.

"Stephen has the potential to go a long way in the game and I would have no hesitation playing him in the team if I thought we needed to," said Johnson.

"It's certainly not his goalkeeping which will prevent him staying here. He's already a top goalkeeper. But he's still only 20 and, while he may think he's ready, he still has that little bit of experience to gain.

"He has to be careful what he does off the pitch and he's still trying to find his feet after moving away from his homeland.

"Stephen needs to settle down in his head as much as anything. He's not a bad lad by any stretch of the imagination, but we're keeping an eye on him all the same.

"As goalkeepers get older, they also get more experienced and wiser and I'm sure Stephen won't let us down.

"If I thought he was going to, he would have been gone already and Chris Weale wouldn't have gone out on loan."

Weale joined League One strugglers Yeovil on a short-term loan earlier this week after recovering from the broken finger which cut short a previous loan spell with Hereford United.

Out of contract in the summer, the 26-year-old Somerset-born keeper may feel the time has come to move on after serving as understudy to Basso for two seasons in the Championship.

Should Weale move permanently at the end of the season, it will benefit Henderson, who has made just one first-team appearance as a substitute replacement for Basso against QPR in the opening game of last season.

Johnson said: "That's all a bit further down the line and something for us to think about at the end of the season.

"For now, it will be good for Chris to go on loan because he's been out of action for a while and needs games.This way, Stephen gets to sit on the bench and play in reserves games, which is good for him.

"At the moment, I feel Henderson and Weale are pretty close."

It is rare for a club in English football's second tier to have three such capable custodians and Johnson credits goalkeeping coach Stuart Naylor with having done a superb job with Basso, Weale and Henderson.

"Stuart is one of those unsung heroes who never get a mention," added Johnson. "He's done wonders with the goalkeepers and they do respond to the work he gives them.

"He deserves a lot of credit for keeping three good goalkeepers on the go."