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Six years ago Charlie Austin was a part-time bricklayer and playing for Poole Town but Harry Redknapp believes the Queens Park Rangers striker can cap his incredible rise with an England call-up.
Austin helped Poole win the 2009 Wessex Premier Division with 46 goals in all competitions while also holding down a day-job on a Bournemouth building site.
Transfers to Swindon and Burnley followed before QPR moved for Austin in August 2013. He already has five goals in the top flight this season.
The 25-year-old was not included in Roy Hodgson’s latest England squad yesterday but if Austin can maintain his form, Redknapp believes a call-up will not be far away.
“Charlie’s improving and if he keeps scoring goals there’s no reason why he can’t play for England in the future,” said Redknapp, whose team host Manchester City tomorrow.
“He’s had it hard, he used to get up early in the morning to do bricklaying in the middle of winter and I think he realises how fortunate he is. He loves it and he deserves it.”
