QPR urged to loan out 22-year-old who is not "Championship level" | OneFootball

FLW's QPR Fan Pundit has his say on which player should be temporarily sent away from Loftus Road

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

22-year-old QPR forward Alfie Lloyd has been advised to seek a temporary deal away from Loftus Road, after only starting four Championship matches last season.

Despite making 27 appearances in the 24/25 season, Lloyd managed just two goals in an overall disappointing season for the R's - who finished the campaign in 15th, seven points from relegation.

Lloyd had a spell with Eastleigh in the National League during the 22/23 season, and managed to find the net five times in 20 league appearances - the Spitfires play in the fifth-tier of English football.

Alfie Lloyd not at the required level to play Championship football

FLW's QPR Fan Pundit, Louis Moir, didn't hold back in his evaluation of the young forward - who has big concerns about his current level.

"I’d say Alfie Lloyd needs to go out on loan again. It’s harsh because he comes across as such a nice bloke and he obviously had his effects on games last season but I am in doubt whether he is going to be up to Championship standard," Moir told FLW.

Moir was particularly critical of Lloyd's inconsistent performances, noting: "There were a couple games last season where he was a bit of a handful and there were a lot of times where he just lacked that ability to hack it at Championship level.

"I just think Lloyd needs to go out on loan, play a whole season as sort of majority as a starting striker, because realistically that’s what he is."

The QPR fan's suggestion that Lloyd should secure a loan move away from Loftus Road reflects concerns about how the striker is currently developing - Moir thinks Lloyd would be "a real, real handful" in League Two, while acknowledging he might struggle more in League One.

Competition for places at QPR suggest game-time worries for Alfie Lloyd

Moir's words become more understandable when considering the West London outfit's current striker situation. The R's have Michael Frey, who scored six more league goals than Lloyd last season (eight), and Zan Celar, whose season ended in December through injury.

Young prospect Rayan Kolli has also emerged as a genuine first-team option, and he scored four in the second-tier last season - the 20-year-old has been described by Moir himself as the "best young prospect" at the club - ahead of Lloyd.

Additionally, there is uncertainty surrounding Charlie Kelman, who could be making a permanent move elsewhere - after picking up the League One Golden Boot award whilst on loan at Leyton Orient last season - he scored 21 times.

With this much competition for places, Moir believes Lloyd will struggle for meaningful minutes, "I just think Llyod will find it really difficult next season to get minutes, and I suppose if he does go out on loan and do really well then you’ve got a dilemma whether to think well, we’ve actually got a bit of a player here," he continued.

The harsh reality of Lloyd's QPR future

Perhaps most tellingly was Moir's blunt verdict of Lloyd's long-term prospect at Rangers, suggesting that a sucessful loan spell might be his last chance to prove himself worthy of Championship football.

"It might just come to it where he’s not Championship level, and we’ll just have to probably sell him," Moir stated, adding, "I think that is maybe the outcome in a year or so time, even potentially this summer we might even be looking to get rid of him on a permanent deal, but it’s tough I just don’t think he’s up to it at Championship level."

Being named the club's PFA Community Champion for making appearances at the R's Inclusive Programme, backs up Moir's words about Lloyd being a "nice bloke" - and that character could help him handle any pressure of proving himself away from West London.

Ultimately, while Moir's words may seem harsh, it does reflect the reality that many young players face in their careers. For Lloyd, a loan move could indeed be just what he needs to prove any doubters wrong - but the clock is ticking on his QPR career.