Ian Holloway says QPR youngster Ebere Eze still has to work on the defensive side of his game and could end up playing on the wing.
The teenage forward scored in the 4-1 win against Norwich at Loftus Road on Monday – his second goal for the R’s.
But manager Holloway has insisted that Eze needs to improve his work off the ball.
“He’s wonderful to work with but he’s got to learn his trade,” Holloway said.
“I want him to create goals and score goals. He’s also got to defend for us.
“When I say not to let it go through the gap in the middle, and then they go straight through him, I’m going to have to show him that without the ball you’ve got a job to do in this modern game.
“(Even) the best teams in the world, they don’t just let you have it. They work you. But he’s learning that and I’m very pleased with him. He wants to learn.”
Eze has operated mainly in the number 10 role, but Holloway has suggested he could be deployed elsewhere in the future.
“Where he’s going to end up playing I’m not quite sure yet,” Holloway admitted.
“In certain games you can’t have a 10 because 10s cost you. Maybe he’ll have to learn to go up front or on the left or the right.
“What I’m pleased with is that he picks things up really, really quickly.
“If you sit him down and show him something he really does pick it up very quickly and that’s a delightful skill to have.”
Holloway is also keen for other Rangers youngsters to be given a chance to impress before the end of the season.
He is considering recalling Ilias Chair and Bright Osayi-Samuel for Saturday’s game at Hull along with experienced defender Alex Baptiste.
He said: “We’ve got Hull City away next. I might consider putting the three in who haven’t been used; Ilias Chair, Baptiste and Bright Samuel, because they’ve been flying in training.
“What a great choice for me. Hopefully I can do that and keep things moving.
“I’ve got youngsters I’m enthused about and some aren’t even in the team. Ilias Chair hasn’t put a foot wrong, but we haven’t won when he’s played.
“I’ve got to make sure I get the timing right and they’re coming through and not costing us games but helping us win games.”
This post was last modified on 05/10/2018