QPR may have to sanction temporary January transfer for forward - He's in a "difficult situation" | OneFootball

Rayan Kolli could be forced down the QPR pecking order when key players return from the sidelines

It has been an intriguing start to the season for Queens Park Rangers, who are currently one of the Championship's most in-form sides.

The appointment of former Rennes and Strasbourg boss, Julien Stephan, in June was met with plenty of excitement, and that only increased following a summer of mass transfer activity.

Rangers have rarely threatened the second tier play-off spots throughout their decade-long stint back in the division, yet supporters are now optimistic that could change under the Frenchman.

The additions of Richard Kone, Rumarn Burrell, Kwame Poku and the permanent capture of Koki Saito were all standout additions at Loftus Road, and all have played their part in three successive wins off the back of the well-documented 7-1 defeat at Coventry City last month.

However, the rich vein of form which Stephan's forward players are enjoying, as well as the pending return of Poku and long-serving playmaker, Ilias Chair, has perhaps stuck Rayan Kolli's nose out of joint in W12.

As such, Football League World's QPR fan pundit, Louis Moir, has debated whether a loan move in January could be beneficial to the 20-year-old.

Since breaking into the first-team fold in west London, Kolli has featured in an array of attacking positions such as the left-wing, centre-forward or second striker role.

The Algerian youth international penned a long-term deal with the club back in January, and impressed last season by scoring four times and posting two assists in just 20 league appearances.

However, Moir is unsure as to where the young forward fits in the long run, having made one start and three substitute appearances under Stephan amid injuries to the aforementioned key attackers.

"With Kolli, it's quite a difficult situation," Louis told FLW.

"He got involved last season and did well overall, for someone who transitioned straight from youth football to the Championship without any loan spells.

"He's obviously got lots of ability and he's got massive potential," Moir claimed.

"He signed a long-term deal. I personally don't know what his best position is.

"I find it hard to class him as a striker. When he was playing with the youth teams, he was more of a 'number 10' or a winger. I think he's that sort of player.

"But with the players we've got - and you can go through them all - even more so now with Saito and Vale on either side, they're playing really well and don't deserve to be dropped when Chair and Poku come back. All those names and you're not really thinking about Rayan Kolli," he added.

"It's a difficult situation. This could have been, and could still be, a breakthrough season for him. But, he's just not going to get a lot of game-time. I know the manager mentioned that he's trained well and was unlucky to not come on in one of the home games.

"It's a really tricky one because, if you send him out on loan, yes, he's going to get a lot of game-time under his belt. But, with the hype around him and him signing a long-term deal, maybe he's not the one for now.

"He's obviously still young and there is no need to rush him. Potentially a loan deal may well suit," Moir debated.

"The way we're playing I suppose it would, because (of the options of) Vale, Saito, Chair, Poku, Dembélé and even Smyth.

"Maybe Kolli might have to go out on loan. It could be the best thing for him, as he can come back, there's still massive potential for him to kick on with us.

"There's a player in there, that's for sure, we've just not seen the best of him yet."

Rayan Kolli could really benefit from a loan move away from Queens Park Rangers

As Moir referenced, Kolli is certainly a player who can fulfil his potential in the future and repay the faith that was put in him to do so by the awarding of a long-term contract earlier in the year.

However, with Saito and Vale among the goals and assists of late, before Stephan has even considered how to utilise Chair and Poku once they become available again, it pushes Kolli straight back down the pecking order, having already been an unused substitute in the past two encounters.

Aside from taking the obvious into account, it would be beneficial for his overall footballing and general development to seek a first loan move away from Loftus Road, as it would expose the attacker to a different environment which can then be used to his advantage in the long-term.

Given his output last season, it wouldn't be a surprise to potentially see sides who are tussling for a play-off spot in League One plot a temporary move if that was to be the case.