Charlie Austin is in the form of his life for Southampton at the moment and he’s told the Daily Mail in an exclusive interview that his change in diet is a reason behind him preventing injury.
I’ve changed my diet – not massively but enough to help me prevent injuries. Yes, I eat nuts. Do you know what? I was never really mad for water.
Austin was desperately unlucky in his debut season with Saints last campaign, picking up a couple of unfortunate knocks since his arrival in January this year for a bargain sum of £4 million from QPR.
So I’ve lost body fat and put muscle on. It was a big eye opener. I am old fashioned. You can get stuck in your ways. But I knew I had to change. What did I do before? It wasn’t anything over the top. I’d come in after a game, have a takeaway and a couple of pints.
The Englishman has scored seven goals in as many games as of late and he’s looking as sharp and as clinical as ever, cementing his place as Saints’ first choice striker at the club.
That is the way I have always been and I don’t think I will alter that too much. But now it is a case of having it at the right time. That is just something I have taken through. If you are happy off the pitch and your life is in order, you will get your rewards.
Austin was full of praise for his teammate and captain Jose Fonte, praising his professionalism as an athlete and lauding his dedication to the cause.
I couldn’t keep ramming it down my throat. Let’s be honest — it’s not great, is it? But Jose Fonte was the one. He’s one of the best athletes I’ve seen. Every day he’d say, “Drink plenty of water”. He lives by it. He’s adamant professional athletes should never get muscle tears.
Whatever the new diet may be for Austin, he’s playing absolutely excellently up front for Saints and long may it continue for the season ahead and beyond.
It’s patience. A bit of luck, hard work. Having the right people around. Plus every team needs an out-and-out goalscorer. That’s what I am.
