Jamie Redknapp has hailed Southampton striker Charlie Austin.
Jamie Redknapp in action during the Pro-Am
Pundit and former Southampton midfielder Jamie Redknapp has told Sky Sports that he thinks Charlie Austin is a much better player with the Saints than he was with QPR.
Southampton continued their impressive recent form by sweeping Burnley aside in a 3-1 victory on Sunday afternoon.
Austin grabbed the opener from close range before strike partner Nathan Redmond made it 2-0, and ex-Burnley striker Austin compounded the misery for his former club by scoring a third from the penalty spot.
Southampton’s Charlie Austin reacts after missing a chance to score
Burnley did pull a goal back as Sam Vokes – a lifelong Southampton fan – converted from the penalty spot after a foul from Dusan Tadic,but Southampton ran out 3-1 winners to go eighth in the Premier League table, just four points off a Champions League place.
Claude Puel’s men are really gathering momentum now, and much of that is down to the form of goal hero Austin.
It’s a remarkable seven goals in six games in all competitions for Austin, as the 27-year-old continues to prove that he’s a consistent goalscorer in the Premier League.
Southampton’s Charlie Austin celebrates scoring against Burnley
Signed from QPR for a bargain £4m fee (BBC Sport) back in January, Austin has struggled with injuries at times, but is now showing his quality for Puel – and his displays have triggered praise from Jamie Redknapp.
Redknapp, who played for Southampton, saw his father Harry coach Austin at QPR, and told Sky Sports that he thinks the former non-league striker has ‘improved immensely’ at Southampton.
Redknapp suggested that the biggest changes in Austin’s game are that he now plays in wide areas rather than just through the middle, and his link-up play is superb too, triggering a likeness to former Saints hero Alan Shearer.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp
“I’ve watched Charlie since his Burnley days and I watched him very closely at QPR and he has improved immensely as a player since he has come to Southampton,” said Redknapp. “I always thought of Charlie as purely a box player, but what I’m seeing now is a player that’s really willing to work hard for the team, to play in wide areas because in the first half, [Nathan] Redmond played as a central striker and he was playing in the wider areas and it wasn’t happening for him. He works his socks off and he gets his rewards.”
“I’m not comparing him to an Alan Shearer because he was one of the best strikers, but Alan had that mentality that if you miss a chance or opportunity, it doesn’t bother him. He just thinks ‘right, good, give me another one’ and that’s exactly what Austin’s got and that’s a gift because they don’t care. They get themselves into that six-yard box time and time again.”
“Charlie at the moment has got more to his game. I watch his movement, there’s an improvement, he brings people into play and he scores goals. He’s a much better player than the one I saw at QPR,” he added.
What did you think of Austin’s display against Burnley?
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