QPR youngster Armstrong could make another loan move

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QPR could loan out promising young striker Sinclair Armstrong again during this month’s transfer window.

The 18-year-old Irish forward recently returned to Rangers following his three-month spell with National League side Torquay, who are managed by veteran former Bristol City, Yeovil and Northampton boss Gary Johnson.


Johnson said this week he had asked in vain if QPR would let Armstrong stay at Plainmoor for the rest of the season to help his side’s push for promotion back into the Football League after scoring two goals in his eight appearances and impressing Torquay fans.

However, Rangers insisted he return to London and manager Mark Warburton said discussions will take place about the Dubliner, who joined QPR’s academy from Shamrock Rovers 16 months ago, to decide his next step.

“He has played eight games for Torquay and is an academy player who has not been with our first team yet,” Warburton said.

“I listen to (technical director) Chris (Ramsey) and the staff and if it is right to bring him up to training with the first team then that is absolutely what we will do.

“We have to give pathways to our young players, but we have to make sure they are good enough. I am not saying Sinclair isn’t good enough, far from it.

“But to get in our team he has to be better than Charlie Austin, Lyndon Dykes, Andre Gray, Chris Willock and Charlie Kelman – who is older and above him right now.

“That is the challenge for Sinclair. He went out on loan, scored a couple of goals, which is great. Now what is the best phase for his development?

“Does he go out on loan at a higher level? Does he stay here and play for the B team and try and push Charlie Kelman and those boys out?

“I keep hearing ‘Just throw kids in’, but if you are going to, you have to do so at the right time and what’s best for their development. Also are they good enough to impact QPR?

“At the end of the day, when you look back at the end of the season, people won’t say ‘Well they had six kids in’ when the result is a 3-0 loss.”