Former QPR striker Kevin Gallen is confident Charlie Austin will score goals in the Premier League.

Austin, 25, grabbed 20 goals last season on his way to helping Rangers to promotion and is set to make his top-flight debut against Hull City on Saturday.

Gallen told the Times: “It is going to be tough but if he gets the right service I think he will score goals.

“He comes alive in the box so you need to be providing him with plenty of crosses to get on the end of.

“He has a knack of being in the right place at the right time and if he gets off to a good start it will get his confidence right up.”

Austin nearly joined Hull last year but failed the medical. However, Gallen says the forward will not be bothered by the past in the build-up to the match.

He said: “It would have been disappointing for him at the time because they were offering Premier League football but it has worked out for him well at QPR.

“He is from the south as well and I don’t think it will affect him.”

With Harry Redknapp likely to start with a 3-5-2 formation, Gallen hopes Rio Ferdinand is at his very best.

He said: “Hopefully he still has the desire and the legs. He didn’t play much last season so he could be fresh.

“He has a lot of experience and is comfortable on the ball – you just hope he’s match fit.

“Steven Caulker is another good defender and then Clint Hill could offer some balance with his left foot – although both Richard Dunne and Nedum Onuoha were excellent last season.”

Gallen played for Tigers boss Steve Bruce at Huddersfield Town and knows his former manager will have his side well-prepared for their visit to Loftus Road.

He said: “People might have looked at this match and thought it was a game that QPR could win, but Hull are actually a very decent team.

“They’ve made some good signings and have been playing in Europe recently so I’d be a little concerned that they are already up and running in terms of match fitness.

“The main thing is not to lose like we did two years ago when Swansea won 5-0.”

Mentally Gallen thinks Rangers are in better shape than the previous Premier League campaign, which ended in relgation

He said: “I think expectations are not as huge this time round.”

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