Flashback 6 Yrs: Clubs (inc #QPR) eye Charlie Austin

SWINDON ADVERTISER

SWINDON TOWN: Austin - I will play at a higher level

Tuesday 23rd November 2010 Sam Morshead »

CHARLIE Austin says he would relish the chance to score goals at a higher level, be it at Swindon Town or elsewhere.

The County Ground darling has spoken for the first time about how appealing a role on a bigger stage would be.

Like Simon Cox before him - the former Swindon striker who always maintained his time at Town was a stepping stone on his journey up the Football League ladder - Austin has hinted at how he hopes to continue his steady rise through the professional game.

Whilst he would love that development to take place at Town, Austin realises that may not necessarily be the case.

But the 21-year-old, who scored his 11th goal of the season at Rochdale on Saturday, is happy finding the net for the Robins right now and insists he remains fully committed to the Town cause.

“When that time comes and it’s the right time, I’ll be glad to take the opportunity,” Austin told the Advertiser.

“But I love playing in front of the Town and they’ve given me a great opportunity.

“You don’t want to look too far forward (but) obviously everyone wants to progress in every job they do.

“I’m not really looking too far ahead, I’m just concentrating on every game as it comes.”

Austin was the subject of a £600,000 bid from Millwall over the close-season and has recently been linked with QPR, Portsmouth and Middlesbrough in the national tabloids.

And with the January transfer window rapidly approaching, the young striker is bracing himself for a month of speculation regarding his future.

“Personally, the only interest I know of is Millwall from the summer but apart from that none at all.

“I’ve got good people around me and I keep my head down and talk a lot.

“I’m just working hard in training, going to games and being confident.”

Austin once again praised the Swindon Town fans for their support over the course of the past year.

The front man has now bagged 31 goals for Town at an average of better than a goal every other game, since opening his account just over 12 months ago at Carlisle.

And he credits the Robins crowd for helping him make the transition from Wessex League bricklayer to £2million-rated starlet practically seamless.

“The fans have been great, whether I score or whether I don’t,” he said.

“Even when I look back to the first time I was on the bench against Norwich, they were singing my name.

“It’s a year on and they’re still singing it now, so I must be doing something right.”

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