Reece Grego-Cox is a lot like Charlie Austin, says QPR Under-21 boss Steve Gallen

QPR striker Charlie Austin (Image: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

Austin, who started off in non-league football, was vital in QPR’s promotion campaign scoring 20 goals and has been mooted for a possible England call-up after his recent goals against Southampton and Aston Villa.

Irish Under-19 international Grego-Cox, has impressed after making the jump into the Under-21 team, scoring four goals in eight games.

And manager Gallen reckons there are comparisons to be made between the 17-year-old and the Rs in form striker.

“Reece is a lot like Charlie,” he said.

“They are tenacious, they cause problems for defenders and they can score goals. They won’t give you a moments rest.

“Like Charlie has done at times for the first team, Reece creates a goal out of nothing.

“Both of them play off instinct, look at Charlie’s goal at Southampton. That was instinct; he just did it without thinking.

“Reece does the same, he can win you games that you don’t deserve to win just by playing off his instinct.

The Under-21’s came from two goals down to eventually draw against Swansea on Tuesday afternoon and Gallen admits he showed clips from Rangers’ win against Aston Villa before the game.

“I was showing the lads the goals from the first-team game. The way Bobby Zamora held off the defender and brought others into the game for the goal, I said we could do that as well.

“I showed Charlie’s second too. The way Vargas broke, was direct and Charlie’s run towards the near post.

We got Reece doing that and it almost paid off right at the end,” Gallen added.

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