CHARLIE Austin could have been lining up AGAINST Saints at St Mary’s tomorrow – if West Ham had known he was available for £4m!

The striker will return to the squad this weekend no doubt desperate to ram the words of Hammers co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold back down their thoats.

Sullivan has revealed that West Ham had dismissed signing Austin two years ago because of long-term injury problems – allegations that the 26-year-old forward strongly rejected.

Then, when Austin made his move to Saints last month, Gold suggested the striker’s wage demands were astronomical.

 

Gold tweeted “is he a bargain if his wages are £100,000 per week?” in reply to a fan’s question over why West Ham hadn’t bought the striker at the apparent bargain £4m that Saints got him for from QPR.

That tweet led Saints’ legendary manager Lawrie McMenemy to label their comments “bang out of order” in his weekly Daily Echo column, adding: “Unlucky West Ham. Keep your trap shut and look out as we start to overtake you.

“For directors to make any comment like that I think is wrong.”

In another twist, Sullivan this week said the Hammers would have signed Austin – if they’d known he would cost so little.

Writing in his programmes notes prior to West Ham’s win over Aston Villa on Tuesday, Sullivan said:

“Our next league game is away at Southampton and I just want to clarify my views on the Charlie Austin situation.

“Contrary to reports, he is a player I have always greatly admired and his climb through the divisions is inspiring. I once said at £12m he was a gamble, with his injury record.

“However, if his financial demands are reasonable, Southampton have got fantastic value at £4m. Had I known he was available at that price, I would have taken the gamble myself, and I am sure half the Premier League clubs would have as well.”

Austin made an instant impact for Saints, scoring the winner after coming off the bench on his debut at Old Trafford. He was left out of the squad for Tuesday’s draw at Arsenal, but Ronald Koeman said he should be fit for West Ham’s visit.