Harry Redknapp says Charlie Austin has emphatically answered those who wondered whether the QPR striker could score goals in the Premier League.
The former bricklayer, 25, was playing for non-League Poole Town just over five years ago.
He was prolific for Swindon and then Burnley before moving to Rangers, where his 19 Championship goals helped them win promotion last season.
And after a difficult start he has continued to find the net in the top flight – his equaliser in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Chelsea was Austin’s third goal in two games and his fifth of the season.
“I was hoping he would score some goals in this division, but you never know until players get the opportunity,” said Redknapp.
“If he gets the service, he’s a goalscorer. There’s some goals in Charlie.”
Austin’s goals have possibly put him in the running for an England call-up, but Redknapp believes there is still plenty of room for improvement.
The Rangers boss said: “He needs to work on a few things, like his hold-up play and other parts of his game. He’s improving all the time.
“He has a striker’s knack for scoring goals and hopefully he’ll continue to do that for us.”
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This post was last modified on 03/11/2014