Former rumoured Reading target Charlie Austin netted four goals for Swindon Town in a thrilling 4-4 draw with strugglers Rochdale.
Austin, who was formerly a Royals academy graduate, was a rumoured target over the summer after his QPR departure.
Moving to Australia instead, his spell 'Down Under' was cut short and he returned to the County Ground- the ground where he made his name from 2009 until 2011.
Nice to score 4 goals today and get my first hat trick for Swindon, shame we couldn’t come away with all 3 points pic.twitter.com/iarVsaFzJv
— Charlie Austin (@chazaustin10) March 18, 2023
The former Premier League star, now 33, hit his first Robins hattrick in Greater Manchester and kept the Wiltshere-based side in the top half of the fourth tier.
On Twitter after his four-goal haul, the Hungerford-born star said: "I'’ve never been clapped off by an opposition set of fans, really appreciated that today Rochdale thank you. Good luck for the rest of the season."
Since turning professional in 2009/10, it is the striker's first spell in the fourth tier.
He has now hit eight goals since his January return.
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