Marti Cifuentes hailed QPR youngster Daniel Bennie after a 3-1 win at Oxford all but ended Rangers’ relegation worries.
Bennie, 18, made his full debut, and although usually a winger, he played as a centre-forward because the likes of Michael Frey, Zan Celar and Alfie Lloyd were all out injured.
And boss Cifuentes praised Bennie for his versatility.
“It was an extremely big effort to play in a position that is not his position,” Cifuentes told West London Sport.
“We felt that we needed his running capacity and he showed that. It was about stretching their centre-halves.
“He has this capacity to run in a lot behind and stretch them, and I think that was important.
“I’m not saying he will have a future as a striker. Who knows. But one of his strengths is that he can occupy a lot of positions.
“Last season in Australia he did play a couple of games as a striker. He has played a lot as a winger, as a number eight, and when Australia Under-20s won the Asian Cup he played at right-back, so he’s a player that definitely has that capacity.”
Cifuentes also praised Nicolas Madsen, who was recalled to the side and played well.
Madsen has endured a difficult first season at Loftus Road following his move last summer.
Cifuentes said: “I’m very happy for him because it’s not easy, what he has been going through.
“He deserved a night like this and he played at a really high level. He did really well.”