What are the chances of QPR youngsters out on loan being first-team players for the club next season?
Rangers were lining several fringe players up for loan moves long before last month’s transfer window – largely because the club believe they will be needed next season so should get first-team experience in the meantime.
Financial realities mean Rangers need some of the youngsters to step and make a name for themselves. The hope is that they can emulate Ebere Eze, who went down a storm during a loan spell at Wycombe before returning to make his mark in the Championship. Darnell Furlong is another Rangers player whose development was helped by good loan spells.
Liked by the QPR hierarchy, and having made an impact after being brought into the side by Ian Holloway last season, Northern Ireland forward Smyth has barely featured since Steve McClaren took over as manager. McClaren substituted Smyth against Sheffield United in August and showed no real inclination to select him afterwards.
After a loan deal with Charlton was agreed but then stalled, Smyth ended up being loaned to Accrington Stanley, where he has quickly made an impression. His performance against promotion-chasing Sunderland caught the eye – so much so that Holloway questioned the decision to let him leave on loan.
Prospects: Will almost certainly be part of the QPR first-team squad next season. Whether he stays in it, particularly if McClaren is still manager, remains to be seen. Energetic, but his sloppiness with the ball at present means he perhaps isn’t what the current manager is looking for. Smyth need to tighten things up in that respect.
Prolific for QPR’s development side, and with a couple of senior goals to his name as well, former Tottenham trainee Oteh headed to Walsall, where he has yet to find the net.
Prospects: With Matt Smith coming to the end of his contract and Nahki Wells and Tomer Hemed their respective loan spells, there will certainly be space for Oteh at Rangers. But at the moment he doesn’t look quite ready for Championship level and more time out on loan after his stay at Walsall seems like a more realistic outcome.
Currently having the most Eze-like loan spell of the QPR youngsters to have been shipped out, the midfielder has been superb for Stevenage so far. He scored two brilliant goals against Lincoln – reminiscent of a brace Eze netted for Wycombe at Cambridge – and looks the part.
Prospects: Decent, although the pace of Championship football is something he’ll need to adapt to. Has plenty of ability, is 22 later this year and has been with QPR for a couple of years now, so it’s time for him to kick on.
Signed two years ago from Manchester United a couple of years ago with a big reputation but has done nothing to justify it. Having ended last season on loan at Glasgow Rangers, has returned to Scotland to join St Johnstone.
Prospects: Nice left and foot and all that, but his all-round game doesn’t look strong enough. With the final year of his QPR contract approaching, it’s hard to see him pulling up trees in west London.
The Florida-born Finland international is back in the United States, on loan at Los Angeles FC.
Prospects: Given another year’s contract by QPR, who considered releasing him. It looks like a stay of execution though.
Another defender to return to his native USA on loan, in this case to New England Revolution.
Prospects: The centre-back, 21, has some promise but hasn’t seriously threatened to make the breakthrough at QPR.
This post was last modified on 26/02/2019
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What about David Wheeler? Seems to be the forgotten one! If we cannot afford Pavel Wszolek's salary next season then surely he will get a decent chance at last?
Every chance, Div one beckons and they would do very well there. SM claims too many games in quick succession stops training ground corrections - what a load of c**p this manager comes out with.