Austin caught the eye of England Under-21 scouts last season

Swindon Town striker Charlie Austin says he can deal with the pressure of scoring goals in his second season in League One.

The 21-year-old made the move from non-league Poole in July 2009 to find the net 20 times in 32 starts last term.

"Everyone was talking about second-season syndrome - even the Hartlepool fans in the first game were giving me stick," Austin told BBC Wiltshire.

"There is going to be pressure on me this season but I can handle it."

Austin has scored twice in four games so far and without his regular partner of last season Billy Paynter who made the move to Leeds United.

"It's very different without Bill. We had a good partnership and got on well which showed in the results," said Austin.

"The lads [Thomas Dossevi and Vincent Pericard] that have come in to the side are just as good - we just need to build a strike partnership now."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version