Mark Warburton says QPR will not let Charlie Kelman leave on loan.
Rangers signed striker Kelman, 19, from Southend United during the summer.
Their plan was to assess him over the following months and then make a decision on whether to loan him out during the January transfer window.
And manager Warburton wants to keep him at the club - despite the arrival of Charlie Austin.
Kelman has made four appearances since his move to west London - all as a substitute - and Rangers believe he will get more game time with them this season.
Warburton said: “Bringing a player in gives us four strikers but we need to make sure we have cover. If we get an injury then we’re back down to three strikers.
“We’ve got to make sure we look after QPR and each individual player’s development.
“At 19 years of age, getting pitch time at QPR in the first team is a tremendous part of his development.”