"Still doubts" - Claim made on Charlie Kelman and QPR after Leyton Orient exploits | OneFootball

FLW's QPR fan pundit has shared his thoughts about whether striker Charlie Kelman has a future at the club after his loan spell at Leyton Orient.

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...

Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Kelman is facing an uncertain future after returning from his loan spell at Leyton Orient.

Kelman joined QPR from Southend United in October 2020, but he has made just 26 appearances for the club so far, failing to get on the scoresheet, and he has spent much of the last five years out on loan with the likes of Wigan Athletic, Gillingham and Orient.

After helping the club to the League Two title during his previous spell at Brisbane Road in the 2022-23 season, Kelman rejoined the O's on a season-long loan last summer, and he enjoyed an outstanding campaign as Richie Wellens' side reached the League One play-offs.

Kelman finished as the top scorer in the third tier this season ahead of the likes of Jay Stansfield, Matty Godden, Davis Keillor-Dunn, Richard Kone, Sam Smith and Alfie May, but unfortunately, he and his team-mates were unable to secure promotion as Orient were beaten 1-0 by Charlton Athletic in the final at Wembley.

The 23-year-old will now return to Loftus Road after his stint with the O's came to an end, but it remains to be seen whether he will still be a QPR player next season, and as FLW exclusively revealed last week, as many as eight Championship clubs are keeping tabs on him.

Kelman's situation is further complicated by the fact that the R's are effectively without a manager as Marti Cifuentes is currently on gardening leave, and after former Norwich City head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup reportedly turned down the chance to replace the Spaniard, it seems the club are back to square one in their search for a new boss.

QPR doubts revealed over Charlie Kelman's Loftus Road future

When asked which player he believes may be keen to leave the club this summer, FLW's QPR fan pundit Louis Moir admitted he would not be surprised if Kelman pushed for a permanent exit, and he questioned whether the striker would be able to deliver at Championship level, despite his impressive exploits at Leyton Orient.

"I've got a feeling that now Charlie Kelman is back to being a full-time QPR player, he may want to move away," Louis told FLW.

"The club have offered a new deal to Michael Frey, so he will be staying, and we've got Zan Celar, who was one of the big signings last season, coming back from injury.

"Celar should arguably be the starting striker, so Kelman might be looking it and wondering if he will be guaranteed minutes at QPR, even though he did really well in the season just gone.

"He may even still be hoping that another club will come in for him, whether that be in the Championship or League One, where he can go and be guaranteed to play near enough every week.

"With us, there is uncertainty over the manager situation, and regardless of who we bring in, that manager might not particularly rate Kelman or want him in his plans.

"Kelman might not want that uncertainty, and he might prefer to go a club where he's guaranteed minutes.

"I would not be surprised in the slightest if he's hoping for a summer move away.

"I'm still really on the fence with him, I know he was the League One top goalscorer and probably should be given a chance, but, realistically, is he going to be that main man for us in the Championship?

"There are still doubts about whether he can do it at this level, and will we create enough chances for him? I'm not so sure.

"I would be surprised if there's not serious interest in him after what he did at Leyton Orient.

"For me, I can see him thinking that it might be best to move on in order to try to kick on and do what he did last season at another club because it might not happen for him at QPR."

With the club's managerial situation still up in the air, it is difficult to know whether Kelman will be part of QPR's plans next season.

As Louis says, the R's do have Frey and Celar on their books, as well as youngsters Rayan Kolli and Alfie Lloyd, but none of those strikers are particularly prolific, so Kelman certainly deserves a chance to lead the line after hitting 27 goals for Leyton Orient this term.

Of course, there is no guarantee that Kelman will be able to replicate his League One form in the Championship, and he may be keen to make a fresh start this summer after a frustrating spell at Loftus Road, but whoever replaces Cifuentes should at least consider making him a central part of the team.