Southampton Fan View: Austin’s return comes as a timely boost for goal-shy Saints

Southampton manager Mark Hughes is expecting to have Charlie Austin available for selection when he takes his side to the London Stadium to face West Ham at the end of the month.

Austin has been sidelined with a major hamstring injury since December, as he was forced off in Saints’ 1-1 home draw with Huddersfield Town – a game in which he netted.

Southampton have since found it even harder to find the net on a regular basis and have not had their shooting boots on. Shane Long continues to underwhelm when called upon, Manolo Gabbiadini has struggled for service and is clearly shot of confidence, and £19m man Guido Carrillo has hardly looked to be the answer to Saints’ problems.

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Austin, however, has consistently produced for Saints when he has been called upon. His injury woes have been well documented and the player has developed a reputation as something of a ‘sick note’. However, with 12 goals from his last 16 Premier League starts, no-one can deny that he is Saints’ most natural goalscorer.

The Englishman is not the most athletic forward and nor is he the most fashionable. You know what you’re going to get with Austin and that is an instinctive, six-yard box striker who just needs a decent cross into the correct areas to provide the goods.

Austin is not perfect by any means but he is an absolutely crucial player for Saints. The team play more aggressively, create more chances and subsequently score more goals with him in the side and he is a noticeable absence when he is sidelined.

Hughes will be well aware of the colossal task that presents itself, with Saints desperate to remain in the Premier League. He’ll know that the team will need to feed off the experienced heads to cope with such pressuring situations and Austin will be relied on in the final stretch of the campaign.

It speaks volumes that, despite having started only five games this season in the Premier League, Austin leads the way as Saints’ top goalscorer with a measly six goals. This is, of course, a testament to how poor the team have been going forward rather than how good Austin has been. However, credit should be given where it is due, as the former QPR man has taken his chances when they have presented themselves.

When the international break eventually comes to its conclusion in two weeks’ time, Saints are likely to have a full squad available to them ahead of the final eight league games of the season. This can only be a positive aspect for Hughes to consider, as he aims to lead the club to safety.

Austin’s return has come at the perfect time and he will undoubtedly be key if Southampton are to avoid the drop down to the Championship.