Charlie Austin told talkSPORT Breakfast that Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk reads the game ‘better than 99% of people’.
The duo were teammates at Southampton prior to the Dutchman making his big-money switch to Liverpool.
Whilst injuries have prevented Van Dijk from calmly dispatching attackers this season, his record at Anfield is there for all to see.
Nonetheless, Austin, who is now at QPR, debunked one myth about how Van Dijk defends.
“When you looked at him at the back end of Southampton, it was almost it got to the point where he needed to test himself again,” said Austin.
“A lot of people see him and think, he doesn’t get tight enough to centre-forwards and he allows them to have the run on him.
“For me, that’s not the case. He reads the game better than 99% of people. That’s why he allows them that extra yard because he knows where their next step is.”
Another few more years for Van Dijk at the top level then he will be ranked amongst some of the best centre-backs to have played the game.
Whilst Van Dijk has showcased the incredible talents he has, the likes of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand all have longevity in their locker.
But it’s just a case of when Van Dijk will be considered to be one of the best to have graced English football, not if.
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