Charlie Austin scored twice in Southampton’s 4-1 thrashing of Everton on Sunday.
Charlie Austin showed why he would be the perfect January signing for any of several goal-shy Premier League clubs with a double in Southampton’s 4-1 win over Everton on Sunday.
The 28-year-old striker has been starved of opportunities under new Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino and made the most of his first league start of the season with two second-half headers.
This performance may have forced him into Pellegrino’s plans, but Austin had previously been out of favour despite Southampton only scoring nine in their opening 12 top-flight matches.
Crystal Palace and Newcastle United could both make much better use of Austin’s predatory finishing, which has seen him score three goals in only 290 league minutes this campaign.
The Eagles have been without a recognised forward for most of the season and are still in need of more goalscoring options even now that Christian Benteke is back from a two-month injury.
Newcastle have plenty of options, but none that are firing. Having only made one start, Austin already has more league goals this season than Joselu, Ayoze Perez and Dwight Gayle.
The former Queens Park Rangers striker might not be the type of exciting signing that Magpies fans want amid the takeover talk, but he would be a perfect option in the short team at least.
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