Charlie Austin’s breakthrough season in the top flight was a surprise to everyone.

The former non-league man nearly saved a pretty woeful QPR side from relegation and won many admirers along the way.

His no nonsense approach and eye for goal caught the eye of many potential suitors throughout the summer but, for some unknown reason, no club followed through on their admiration and brought the star back to the Premier League.

Austin has started his season well in the Championship and there are bound to be a few Premier League managers wondering what on earth they have done come January.

Here are five clubs who should have broken the bank to sign Austin...

Crystal Palace

Pardew’s side had a summer to remember as Yohan Cabaye arrived from Paris, but the centre forward position still doesn’t look quite in line with the quality of the rest of the Palace squad.

Connor Wickham still has potential, but the ex-Sunderland man has consistently failed to prove his goal scoring touch and Patrick Bamford is unproven at this level. Charlie Austin’s signing as a focal point for the energy and pace around him would have made Palace a guaranteed top 8 side.

Newcastle

This summer was not the usual car crash for Newcastle, but their striking options still seem a tad limited. Mitrovic has already made a fool of himself in the league and, although he could become the real deal, is a gamble at this point.

The added quality of Wijnaldum means the number 9 at Newcastle will no longer be wasting his time in the final third and Austin is the kind of player who could rejuvenate the toon army.

Tottenham Hotspur

With Adebayor finally out of the door and Roberto Soldado back in Spain, Harry Kane has a lot of goal scoring expectation on his shoulders in the white half of North London now.

N’Jie and Son are likely to fill in on occasion, but Kane (who is in dire form) will need to produce another season like last year if Spurs are to even consider breaching the top four barrier. Austin could have worked as foil for Kane and would’ve had the chance to gain European experience.

Chelsea

When Chelsea decided to sign Radamel Falcao and his obscene wages this summer, eyebrows were raised. Diego Costa has been injured a lot, as has Loic Remy, but Falcao’s form since his own serious injury makes his addition seem bizarre.

If Chelsea are looking for a proven goalscorer as cover, Austin would surely have been a far more reliable and sensible option. Austin would provide something different from Remy or Costa and, most importantly, be another for the English quota.

Aston Villa

Tim Sherwood had quite a transfer kitty this summer. After Benteke and Delph left, Sherwood went on a spending spree that saw players appearing at the club from all over the place, but he magically overlooked Charlie Austin.

Austin would surely have been an ideal replacement for Christian Benteke and, unlike his signings, has a proven record in the league.