Austin Hits Hat Trick In Closed Doors Friendly
Charlie Austin did his chances of a place back in the starting line up no harm as he netted a hat trick in a friendly at Staplewood.
Saints put out a strong team to face Championship side Fulham in a friendly against Fulham at Staplewood this afternoon with Charlie Austin leading the way in a 5-1 win.
Oriol Romeu started the goal rout in the first minute to set the tone and then a couple from Charlie Austin in the space of a couple of minutes gave Saints a commanding lead with barely 25 minutes on the clock.
Pierre Emile Hojbjerg made it four just before the break and Austin completed the scoring in the second half with Ibrahima Cisse getting the consolation for Fulham.
Saints lined up
Taylor; Pied, Stephens, Gardos (Bakary 69’), Targett; Romeu (Obafemi 69’), McQueen; Ward-Prowse, Højbjerg, Redmond; Austin.
Strangely no place for Alex McCarthy who you would have thought would have played if Maurcio Pellegrino was planning on dropping Fraser Forster.
Although this was only a friendly, several players seemed to see it as a good chance to impress the manager, not least Charlie Austin and Pierre Emile Hojbjerg, the latter not only assisting Romeu for the first goal but scoring himself.
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