Kamara: Austin will score goals but needs help if QPR are to survive

Chris Kamara believes QPR striker Charlie Austin has all the tools to become a top Premier League striker but must be more clinical if he is to help QPR avoid relegation.

The 25-year-old has had an unprecedented rise through the leagues of English football from his non-league days at Kintbury Rangers all the way through to play for the Hoops at the highest level.

And while the former Swindon Town star has scored goals at all levels, including two strikes so far in the Premier League, Ladbrokes ambassador Kamara believes he still has a long way to go before he can be classed as a prolific marksmen at the top level.

“Charlie [Austin] will definitely score goals in the Premier League. There is absolutely no doubt about that,” said the Soccer Saturday reporter.

“But whether he’s the man to get you 20 goals in the Premier League is another matter entirely.

“He’s had an amazing rise to prominence from non-league all the way up the divisions through to the Premier League but it will be harder for him that’s for sure because QPR won’t create as many chances as they did at Championship level,” he added.

And Kammy, who led Bradford to the second tier of English football as a manager, believes Austin needs to become much more consistent in front of goal if he is to be a real success at the top level and the saviour for QPR, who are one of the odds-on favourites for relegation at 4/6.

“With the few chances you get at this level you have to take them, just like players of the standard of Diego Costa and Daniel Sturridge do.

“Those kinds of players are not only deadly in front of goal but they can create a chance for themselves out of nothing and I’m not sure Charlie can do that quite yet.

“He relies on other people to put him in the goal scoring position and when he gets those chances he’s got to take them.

“Charlie will be hoping Harry [Redknapp] can work his magic in the transfer window come January but saying that he’s had an excellent start so far with a couple of goals and QPR will certainly need him to bag a few more if they are to stay in the Premier League.”

The Loftus Road faithful will be hoping that starts on Sunday against Brendan Rodgers’ side with Austin 8/1 to score the first goal of the game.

The former Burnley striker is 16/5 with the bookmaker to score at any time against the Reds, while he is 22/1 to score a double and 125/1 to score what would be a surprise hat-trick.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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