Player Focus: Interest Set to Mount in Fit Again Charlie Austin
As the hectic festive period approaches, any team would happily welcome one of their star players back to the fold, be it from injury or suspension. For QPR, the return of Charlie Austin has been well-timed. The striker suffered a hamstring problem earlier in the season, ruling him out for quite some time. However, his return to match fitness will be a boost to the Hoops in their promotion bid. Austin has scored three goals in his last four league appearances, taking his total in the Championship to 10; only Ross McCormack (11) has netted more in England’s second tier this term. The top 10 sports betting sites certainly feel that he is well in the running to win the league's Golden Boot award for the first time.
Austin’s full recovery will boost Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s attacking options as QPR look to haul themselves back up the table and into playoff contention. The west London side are now unbeaten in four league games following the 2-2 draw with Brighton in midweek. I was an encounter Austin was awarded the WhoScored man of the match award in courtesy of his second half brace, as QPR fought back from two goals down to secure a share of the spoils.
His return to goalscoring form comes at just the right time with games coming thick and fast. If any team can put a run of form together, they can propel themselves back into the mix for a shot at promotion to the Premier League and Hasselbaink will be understandably keen to see Austin prolong his form. In one respect, though, the timing couldn’t be worse for the club.
Austin’s goalscoring exploits in the Premier League are well documented. 18 goals in his debut campaign in England’s top-flight was the fourth best return in the league and, following QPR’s relegation, saw him linked with a move away from Loftus Road, with a host of Premier League teams keen on the England hopeful. Only Sergio Aguero (4.5) averaged more shots per game than Austin (3.7) last term, further accentuating his seamless transition from Championship to top-flight football.
The experience gained indeed stood him in good stead and many are of the opinion that Austin remains a striker capable of plying his trade in the Premier League with ease. Of the top-20 teams in England, there are a number who could maximise the frontman’s attacking talents.
Given the 4-2-3-1 formation is often the order of the day in England’s top tier - notably Leicester City aside - the physical side of his game means he is ideal as the lone frontman. QPR may have utilised a 4-4-2 formation last term, but having largely reverted to the former formation, Austin’s game has developed and improved as he looks to push on and re-establish himself as one of the top strikers in the country.
Having scored more headed goals (4) than any other player in the Championship this term, it further reinforces Austin’s ability to lead the attack and accentuates his statistically calculated WhoScored strength of ‘headed attempts’. Impressively, five of his 10 league goals have been deemed clear-cut, which denotes his ability to move into excellent goalscoring positions, with just one of those five coming from the penalty spot.
Either way, a handful of Premier League sides could certainly maximise the attacking qualities of the English striker, though QPR would be understandably reluctant to entertain offers for their prized asset, despite the fact that his contract will expire in the summer. The Hoops are a team who should be challenging for promotion this season, and so Hasselbaink would be keen to see Austin spearhead the charge rather than sell him on to a Premier League team.
QPR sit just six points off the playoff places and with the help of Austin, would still have a realistic chance of securing automatic promotion, but need to quickly start putting points on the board for that to happen. Nevertheless, a January sale would significantly dent their chances of progression, setting the club back rather than move them forward. In the last three Premier League and Championship seasons, the 26-year-old has netted a superb 47 league goals, the sixth best return in that time.
Of course, any top-flight team could utilise his qualities, no matter if they play with a system that requires a lone striker or a partnership, with Austin capable of playing in either system. QPR need Austin to show his best form if they are to return to the Premier League, but in turn, this would only increase interest in him with the transfer window close to opening once more. His goalscoring exploits this season suggest he is indeed one who deserves to be plying his trade in England’s top tier after all.
Will Austin leave QPR in January, and if so where will he be heading? Let us know in the comments below
