I was frustrated and hurt I never found out why I never got anothershot with England

QPR AND EX-NON LEAGUE STRIKER CHARLIE AUSTIN

AMONG the seven deadly sins, envy is the least fun – so Charlie Austin can only admire English football’s latest graduate from obscurity to international goalscorer.

When Ollie Watkins struck on his Three Lions debut against San Marino, he followed Rickie Lambert and Jamie Vardy on the pathway from non-league anonymity to Wembley celebrity.

But when Austin was called up by Roy Hodgson for England’s friendly with the Republic of Ireland and Euro 2016 qualifier against Slovenia six years ago, he didn’t play a single minute.

Austin was never included in another England squad again. “The hardest thing to accept, and the only regret I have from my career, is not winning an England cap,” said the West Brom striker, who is on loan at QPR – his second spell at the club. “Everything else about being called up was great. Wayne Rooney was the captain and he introduced me to the squad and staff.

“In our first shooting session, I was like a kid in a sweet shop. I thought I gave a decent account of myself and what I could do.

“I didn’t mess about, I wasn’t there for a jolly or to make up the numbers. To win a cap, after starting adult life as a bricklayer who played non-league football, would have been the final piece of the jigsaw, the pinnacle of my career,” added Austin (training with Rooney, right).

“But I must have done a lot right to get into an England squad, like scoring 18 goals for a team who were relegated, so it’s just a shame I never found out what I did wrong to miss out on that final step.

“Maybe it was just easier to drop a QPR player than someone from a big club.

Not as much fuss.”

Austin claimed that he was a victim of football “snobbery” after a season in which only Sergio Aguero, Harry Kane and Diego Costa scored more Premier League goals.

He said: “I was just a bit frustrated and hurt that I never found out why I didn’t get another chance.”

Austin, 31, has at least been picked as a front man to celebrate the return of grassroots football on Monday after nearly four months of lockdown and EFL’S communities supporter, Your Move, are giving away 100 kits to teams nationwide.

Watkins’ rise from obscurity at Weston-supermare was a timely reminder of the hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

“Another one who’s come all the way up the mountain from the bottom,” grinned Austin, who began his career in rural Berkshire at Kintbury Rangers. “I had to graft in the ‘real’ world before I landed my first pro contract.

“Now Ollie’s been rewarded for doing all the hard yards – what a fantastic example to boys and girls who dream of playing football. What’s even more pleasing than seeing him score, and take to international football like a duck to water, was the way all his team-mates joined in the celebrations and shared the moment with him.”

A year after tossing Austin overboard without explanation, England were embarrassed at the Euros by Iceland.

Gareth Southgate’s embarrassment of riches should fare markedly better in this summer’s deferred Euro 2020 finals. But as Austin warned: “There are only so many chocolates you can fit into a box. Good luck to Gareth solving that one – rather him than me.”

■ YOUR MOVE, official communities supporter of the EFL, are giving away kits to grassroots teams at www.your-move.co.uk/kit