Top 5 EFL Championship forwards this season

The English Championship is famous for its unpredictability and high-scoring encounters. The division is home to many top marksmen. A great forward isn't only decided by goal scoring statistics, but also by his influence on the pitch.

Some strikers can be very effective as target men, and physical forces. It's also about being a team player, rather than a one-man crusade. In this article, we look at the very best forwards in the league. A few familiar faces and some young guns feature, in our detailed list.

This list takes that point into account. Making a list like this won't please everyone, so feel free to reply with any discontent!

#5 Gary Hooper – Sheffield Wednesday

The English striker has started the season in tremendous form for Sheffield Wednesday – already scoring 7 goals in 11 Championship games.

Hooper is most famous for his time at Scottish giants Celtic. Between 2010-13, he scored 82 goals in 138 appearances for the Bhoys. His form north of the border, convinced Premier League Norwich City to part with £5m, to bring him to East Anglia.

However, Hooper failed to make the grade at Norwich and in the English top flight. He came to the club vowing to force his way into the England squad but left after 2 years to join Championship Sheffield Wednesday on loan.

After a successful loan spell at Hillsborough, Hooper completed a permanent move to the Yorkshire club last year. Since then, he has been impressive. His tally of 27 goals in 70 appearances for Wednesday, has restored his reputation as an expert marksman.

Hooper’s strong start to the present campaign has boosted a club who have missed out on Premier League football at the play-off stage, in the past 2 seasons.

#4 Kenneth Zohore - Cardiff City

Cardiff City have surprised many to start the Championship season as the early pace-setters. One of the key men behind the Welsh sides transformation has been the 23-year old Zohore.

The Dane has only scored 3 goals so far, this campaign, but has been a nuisance for defences in the division. Last term, he scored 12 goals in 29 Championship appearances for Cardiff, in what was a difficult season for the Bluebirds. Zohore was one of the few rays of hope.

Zohore originally signed for Cardiff on loan, in 2016. He had previously played for the likes of FC Copenhagen, Fiorentina, Brondby IF and IFK Goteborg. He also has 20 caps for the Danish U21 side, with 8 goals to his name.

A big physical presence, Zohore is a handful for most Championship defences. He will never be a prolific goal scorer, but his pace and power make him an asset to Neil Warnock’s Cardiff side.

#3 Britt Assombalonga - Middlesbrough

Assombalonga has been an impressive goal-scorer in the English Football League, for many years. Despite, suffering from serious injury problems over the past few seasons, he has recovered and is now making a strong impact again in the Championship.

He first made a name for himself in League One at Peterborough United, after he scored 33 goals in 58 matches during the 2013/14 campaign. That earned him a £5m move to Nottingham Forest. There, he started strongly as the Midlands club sought a return to the Premier League. Although, on the 11th February in 2015, Assombalonga sustained a serious knee injury against Wigan Athletic. The injury kept him out until the 19th April 2016.

Last season, he returned and scored 14 goals in 33 matches for Forest. A return to form led to a move to Middlesbrough, for a fee of £15m. Assombalonga has started well for his new club, scoring 5 Championship goals already. He will be at the forefront of Boro’s quest to return to the big time.

#2 Daryl Murphy - Nottingham Forest

Like Assombalonga, Murphy has gained a reputation as a potent goalscorer at this level. The 34-year old Irishman has represented 9 clubs in his career. His most notable spells came at Sunderland, Celtic and Ipswich Town. He also enjoyed a brief spell at Newcastle United last season, before opting to stay in the Championship by signing for Nottingham Forest.

Murphy’s most prolific season came in the 2014/15 campaign when he scored 27 goals in 44 Championship appearances.

However, for the Irish national team, he has struggled. His tally of 1 goal in 26 appearances for his country, isn’t the best.

That said, he is still a top Championship striker. Murphy may be a veteran these days, but he is still banging in the goals – with 6 in his first 11 Championship games for Forest.

#1 Pierre-Michel Lasogga - Leeds United

The capture of the German centre-forward was one of the Championship coups of the summer. Lasogga was an established player in Germany before he decided to make the move to Yorkshire. In his native land, he played for the Bayer Leverkusen II, Hertha Berlin and Hamburg. He also represented the German U21 side 11 times, scoring 4 goals.

Lasogga probably made his largest impact at Hamburg. During his time there though, the club were experiencing difficult times. The 25-year old was one of the few bright sparks in a succession of relegation battles. His 13 goals in 20 Bundesliga appearances in the 2013/14 campaign, earned him a call up the German senior squad. Unfortunately, he couldn’t feature in their friendly match against Chile, due to injury.

His form at Hamburg tailed out, however. He was loaned to Leeds United at the start of the present season. Lasogga has made a strong start in England, with 3 goals in his first 4 Championship games. If he continues to provide a threat for Leeds, then they may well realise their dream of a return to the Premier League!