The ‘Charlie Austin story’ really is the stuff of dreams. After being released by Reading at youth level Austin played none-league football for 3 different teams up until Swindon Town’s chief scout caught the 25 year old scoring goals for fun (48 in 42) at Poole Town. Gifted a weeks trial the QPR front-man netted a hat-trick in a reserve game prompting then Swindon boss Danny Wilson- who incidentally notched 1,000 games as a football manager this weekend- to hand Austin his first professional contract until the end of the season.
The hit-man carried his none league form to the County Ground where 31 goals in just over 50 appearances was rewarded with a move further up the football league pyramid when in 2011 Burnley came calling. Another successful 2 year stint alerted several Premier League clubs and Austin would have moved to Hull City if he hadn’t of failed a medical. Nevertheless Harry Redknapp got his man and Austin was now a premier league player. Many still doubted whether the Englishman could cut it at the top level but after Ranger’s 3-2 romping of West Bromwich Albion and Austin scoring all 3, the football universe is now asking if the boy from non-league can cut it in an England strip…
With Austin on a hot streak pre-match with 6 goals in 8 games and all of QPR’s points so far this season coming at Loftus Road, hopes were high in London. Expectations were quickly dampened though as Joleon Lescott popped up with his first goal in over a year after the ex City and Everton defender rose highest from a corner, quickly followed up when Varela was afforded too much time and space to play a smart one-two on the edge of the Hoops’ box accompanied with an acute finish to put Albion 2 goals to the good susequently grabbing his first for the the Baggies. Deemed an early season relegation battle, Austin grabbed his 5th home game running goal from the spot with an emphatic penalty after Leroy Fer was pulled back in the area, making that 9 in 7 for the Premier League’s most in-form striker. Austin equalled the scores after Richard Dunne hit the bar with a powerful header from a corner and Austin was there to scramble home like a true goal poacher. Austin could have sealed his hat-trick from the spot but Joey Barton’s penalty appeals were denied whilst Ben Foster blocked an Austin effort on goal bravely when the forward had shown great movement to create a chance. The winner came though when this time Austin beat everyone to a corner and made no mistake with the finish making him the first QPR player to score 3 goals in a game in 10 years (21 year in EPL). Austin holds 2nd place in the football league for % hand in goals (59%).
It’s clear QPR’s Premier League survival is paramount to Austin’s staying off the treatment table as the goals always seem to come, but could the R’s new talisman really offer his Nation something? Rooney is currently playing in a much deeper midfield role for United, Sturridge is injured, as is Rodriguez. There could well be a spot available for somebody, whether that is Charlie Austin, Andy Carroll, Ricky Lambert, Behrahimo or somebody else, time will only tell. What is clear is that Charlie Austin is premier league quality.
