Noel Whelan has backed West Bromwich Albion striker Charlie Austin to join either Celtic or Rangers when he leaves West Brom.

Austin, 30, joined West Brom from Southampton last summer. He cost the club nearly £4 million and has since proved to be a back-up striker at The Hawthorns, but has still managed to find the net eight times in the Championship this season as the Baggies have looked to reward their fans' faith in them who have used their 10bet bonus by securing promotion back to the Premier League.

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan - ex-Leeds, Coventry and Middlesbrough striker - believes that Austin would make a great addition to either of the Old Firm sides:

“He’s one of these players you’d look at, you’d get for the right money and I think he’s got that pedigree. It’s not working out for him right now at West Brom, there’s not enough game time there for him, I think everyone expected a little bit more."

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Austin has had a good season, but his involvements haven't been as much as fans were expecting. He's turned out to be a second-choice striker but has shown his first-team qualities throughout, and Whelan believes he could make more of an impact up in Scotland:

“I can definitely see players, later on in their careers where there’s still enough juice in the tank, to go to Rangers or a Celtic, absolutely," he explained. "They’re the teams that could probably only give him the wages that he’d want.”

From Non-League to the Premier League, and to knocking on the door of the England side, Austin's career has gone from strength-to-strength. He's one of the most natural finishers there is in the Football League, and at 30-years-old he's likely some more years left in him.

The verdict

This is a move that sounds just right for Austin - his Premier League days are likely over, and whilst he's still doing a job at Championship level, will he not look for new opportunities in the coming months, or seasons?

He's a year left on his West Brom contract after this, but even before then, expect clubs like Celtic and Rangers who have the financial backing, to show an interest in the 30-year-old.

Much could depend on whether West Brom are awarded promotion and thus Austin falls further down the pecking order at The Hawthorns or if the Baggies face another year in the second tier of English football.