QPR not feeling Charlton Athletic transfer regret just yet | OneFootball

Charlie Kelman is yet to truly make his mark at Charlton Athletic

Charlie Kelman has struggled to hit the ground running in a Charlton Athletic shirt.

The American netted 27 times in all competitions for Leyton Orient last season, but Queens Park Rangers weren't prepared to risk his performance levels in the Championship once more, especially with him being in the last year of his contract.

Charlton came in with a £3.5 million offer, which could rise to £5 million if add-ons are met, and the Hoops were happy to cash in on the 23-year-old, who hadn't scored for QPR in his 26 appearances.

Nathan Jones' Addicks have struggled in front of goal this season, scoring twice in their opening four Championship outings, and Kelman, having started the opening couple of league fixtures, has found himself a bench option in the past couple of games.

Clearly, QPR aren't feeling too blue about letting the 23-year-old leave just yet, and the promise shown from Richard Kone in the short time spent at Loftus Road may mean that they never regret the sale of Kelman to their London rivals.

Charlie Kelman has struggled at Charlton Athletic

Being a striker in a side who have scored just two league goals so far this season can be frustrating, but when you delve deeper into Championship statistics, Charlton haven't exactly been poor going forward.

Eight big chances created place them 13th in the second tier, whilst 4.3 shots on target per game have them in the top ten in the league. Their xG is the same as fourth-placed Leicester City, better than Middlesbrough's, who occupy the top spot, and just 0.2 less than second-placed West Brom.

What's worrying about Kelman, however, is that he doesn't seem to have played much of a part in those statistics at all. He's had just one shot all season and created 0.3 xG.

It took just two games for Nathan Jones to switch things up top, bringing in Miles Leaburn from the start in their last two games.

Now, it's obviously way too early to be writing anybody off this season, but the pressure has been there immediately for Kelman to make the step-up and to prove to critics that last season wasn't a 'one season wonder'.

The longer the 23-year-old goes without scoring or making an impact elsewhere, the more people will believe that QPR made the right decision in letting him go, especially given that his replacement, who also shone in League One last season, is taking to the increase in level much more easily.

Richard Kone's excellence will leave QPR with no Charlie Kelman regrets

Kone image credit - Benji Walker (@benjiwalkerphoto)

Richard Kone has had a great start to life at Loftus Road, scoring twice in his first three games, including one against Kelman's current employers.

The Ivorian joined Julien Stephan's side for a fee worth an initial £2.75 million. Costing around the same and playing in the same position, the former Wycombe Wanderers man was seen by many as the Kelman replacement.

And it's easy to compare the two, too, as they both enjoyed breakout seasons in the third tier for play-off finishing sides last term. Kone's 18 league goals were just three behind Kelman across the whole campaign.

The sample size is small, but so far, Kone looks the likelier of the two to take the Championship by storm, and if the 22-year-old Ivorian can continue his goalscoring form throughout the season, QPR won't be regretting selling Kelman at all, even if the American can turn his own form around in the meantime.