Danny Wright

Tue 28 April 2020 10:47, UK

We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…

Kevin Phillips believes that West Brom got themselves a bargain in the summer when they signed Charlie Austin for £4million from Southampton.

Austin, 30, arrived at The Hawthorns as a proven goalscorer at Championship level after previously impressing in the second-tier at Burnley and QPR.

He struggled to get among the goals in his four seasons at Southampton but Albion fans were generally pleased to see Slaven Bilic sign him in the summer.

However since swapping the south coast for the West Midlands, Austin has only started 13 Championship fixtures and has been used mainly as an impact substitute by Bilic.

Austin has scored six goals off the bench this season – more than any other player in the Championship – and while Phillips is impressed by the striker’s cutting edge as a substitute, he admits that his first season at The Hawthorns hasn’t gone as expected.

“Yeah, he was [a bargain],” Phillips told West Brom News. “I thought he was a good signing for West Brom but it just hasn’t worked out.

“But when he has come on he’s certainly done well.

“I was there at the Birmingham game when he came on and got the goals. He’s played his part but at this stage of his career he wants to be playing every week.”

Austin may not have started as often as he may have liked for West Brom but there is no denying that Albion are a better team when Hal Robson-Kanu starts and the £4million summer signing is used off the bench.

West Brom have a knack of scoring late goals because Bilic’s in-game management is not bested by any other boss in the Championship.

Austin’s fresh legs and eye for goal, coupled with the creativity and pace of wide players, means the Baggies always have the chance to create some last-ditch drama.

In other West Brom news, Ally Robertson is thrilled by the EFL’s most recent update.